Purely For Parents © CEOP 2007

Purely for parents
The Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre does not wish to scare parents and their
children. The internet is a fantastic resource with amazing communication and research possibilities.
Unfortunately, it can also be used by individuals who have inappropriate intentions towards young
people. We wouldn’t stop our children from using the library or reading books and, in the same way, it
would be wrong to stop them from using the internet. New technology is part of children’s educational
and life experience in the modern age. Those who care for them need to ensure that they have the
knowledge to keep them safe and an understanding of what to do if things go wrong.
If your child reports concerns to CEOP, you may or may not be told about it. The way that each case is
dealt with very much depends on the nature of the report, the type of activity reported and the attitude
of the child reporting. Every report received is assessed on the content, and the child’s understanding
of what they are reporting. However, CEOP do work within certain guidelines with respect to this. One
of these is that if your child is under the age of 13, CEOP will speak with parents and explain what has
been reported by the child. If a child is over the age of 13, CEOP will reply directly back to the child.
There may be exceptions to this rule however and decisions will be made on circumstances relating to
individual children. For example, if a child reports that their MSN account has been hacked into, CEOP
will reply directly to the child and provide them with the advice and guidance necessary. If a child
indicates concerns relating to a parent or carer, the appropriate child protection processes will take
effect and the relevant professionals informed. What CEOP can say though is that if the report is about
illegal activity or there is a risk to your child, the appropriate police force will be notified and will be in
touch to discuss the report.
Contents
1. What are the risks to children and young people online?
2. What is online grooming?
3. How would I know if my child was being groomed?
4. If my child adds someone to their buddy list on Instant Messenger, can that person
see my child’s contacts?
5. Should I move the computer from the bedroom?
6. Should we as parents report all our concerns to CEOP?
7. How do I remove something that my child has uploaded to the internet?
8. What filtering software should I use?
9. Why are there not specific security checks for children when they create an online profile in
social networking sites?
10. What are the internet service providers (ISP’s) doing to protect my child whilst they are using their site?
Further information
Purely for parents

© CEOP 2007
01
Purely for parents
1. What are the risks to children 2. What is online grooming?

and young people online?
• Paedophiles using the internet to meet Online grooming is:

young people
• People lying to others online ‘A course of conduct enacted by a suspected
• Bullying using the internet paedophile, which would give a reasonable
• Seeing sexually explicit and person cause for concern that any meeting with
inappropriate pictures a child arising from the conduct would be for
• Viruses and pop-ups unlawful purposes’
Sexual Offences Act, 2003
This information sheet will focus specifically on
paedophiles and how they use the internet to Often, adults who want to engage children in
meet young people. For more information on sexual acts, or talk to them for sexual
the other risks young people face, please see gratification will seek out young people who
the websites at the end of this question sheet. desire friendship. They will often use a number
of grooming techniques including building trust
with the child in more intimate forms of
communication, including compromising a child
3. How would I know if my with the use of images and webcams. Child sex
child was being groomed? abusers will often use blackmail and guilt as
methods of securing a meeting with the child.
There is no way of knowing without speaking to 4. If my child adds someone to their

your child if they are engaged in an appropriate
relationship but there are some behaviours to buddy list on Instant Messenger, can
look out for: that person see my child’s contacts?
• Excessive use of the computer; No. If your child adds someone to their
• Aggressive behaviour regarding internet contact list, that person will not be able to
usage; access the rest of their contacts.
• Secretive behaviour;
• Change in use of sexual language.
If you are concerned, talk to your child and

review the sites they have been visiting.
Purely for parents

© CEOP 2007
02
Purely for parents
5. Should I move the computer 6. Should we as parents report

from the bedroom? all our concerns to CEOP?
CEOP advise that if there is a computer in the If you have concerns that your child has been
bedroom it should be moved to a family room, engaged online by someone behaving
i.e. a living room or dining room. This suspiciously, you should speak to your child first.
encourages children to make their online Alternatively, you can speak to your local police -
behaviour a family activity and can encourage they will be able to begin an investigation if
them to be less secretive. Children are less required and, if necessary, they will approach
likely to engage in risky behaviour if they know CEOP for further assistance. You should only
their parents carers are able to view their report to CEOP if you have suspicions that your
screens and this is especially relevant if child is being groomed or is arranging to meet
children are communicating via webcams. someone.
7. How do I remove something that 8. What filtering software

my child has uploaded to the internet? should I use?
Filtering software is not 100% effective in

If your child has uploaded something to the keeping inappropriate content from your
internet and it is within their online profile, they computer however, it is a good idea to use it in
can delete it. If something has been uploaded conjunction with CEOP safety advice. Internet
and is not within your child’s profile and you service providers (ISP’s) have their own filtering
believe it should be removed, you will need to software’s and these should be used also. There
speak to the service provider. They have are a number of different websites that you can
contact details on the sites, usually within the use to get filtering software for your computers.
help or contact sections. You can also go to www.getnetwise.org where
you can get definitions for things you may have
heard of but may not understand.
Similarly, no monitoring software is 100%

effective and should not be seen as a substitute
to becoming involved in your children’s use of the
internet. However, there are some good products
available for you to use. Have a look at
www.getnetwise.org for a list of the best
products available.
Purely for parents

© CEOP 2007
03
Purely for parents
9. Why are there not specific security checks 10. What are the internet service
for children when they create an online providers (ISP’s) doing to protect
profile in social networking sites? my child whilst they are using their site?
At present there is no legislation with regards Some internet service providers (ISP’s) have
to how children create online profiles, but there already embedded CEOP’s Report Abuse
are guidelines that should be followed. Some mechanism within their sites allowing children
sites say children must be over a certain age, to report any suspicious behaviour directly to
but children can easily use a different date of trained officers. This is a good step forward, but
birth to get around this. Some sites also ask for there is still a long way to go. CEOP will
a parent’s email address to verify the continue to work with industry to ensure sites
information given by the child, but this again is children are using are as safe as they can be.
not mandatory. CEOP are working with the UK
Government and key online industry providers
to look at how these sites operate in this
regard.
Further information
www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents www.childnet-int.org
Gives advice and guidance for parents on new A children’s internet charity committed to
technologies and safe use of the internet for helping make the internet a safe place for
their children, provided by the Child children, this provides safety advice, projects,
Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) resources and a section for children.
Centre
www.iwf.org.uk
www.schools.becta.org.uk The only recognised organisation in the UK
Provides information for schools and parents on operating an internet ‘hotline’ for the public and
safe use of the internet. Becta leads the IT professionals to report their exposure to
national drive to improve learning through potentially illegal content online.
technology. They work with industry to ensure
the right technology for education is in place.
Purely for parents

© CEOP 2007
04

Purely For Parents © CEOP 2007

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Purely For Parents © CEOP 2007

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Purely For Parents © CEOP 2007

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Purely for parents