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Recently, the CEOP Centre published its annual Strategic Overview which contains all the key themes that you as parents need to be aware of in relation to internet safety. In particular, the report covers environments where our  intelligence suggests are frequented by offenders, as well as explaining their particular behaviour patterns – some of which could be useful early signs to watch out for.

It is vital that we all understand the way in which technology is evolving, so that we can understand the threat posed by those who would seek to harm our children. By understanding these environments, we can all ensure that we have the knowledge to empower our children in staying safe online.

Convergence

Convergence of technology and behaviour is one of the most significant trends that has been seen in the last year. The traditional types of online environments - social networking, online gaming and instant messaging - are now merging to become components of larger social sites. An example of this is the integration of instant messenger applications, such as Windows Live and AIM, within social networking sites – in other words sites that once were designed for young people to post pictures and keep in touch with their friends online are now also offering instant online “chat” facilities.

As a result, the terms “online” and “offline” are hardly ever used these days by young people – the reason is simple – they are now one and the same.

These evolving environments can present new risks for children, offering the potential for offenders to take advantage of the information available to them. The expansion of social sites and the way they are being used by children and young people can make the ‘grooming’ process easier, as offenders are able to build a range of contacts and express shared interests and opinions with children, who are increasingly used to having the online world as their audience.

Top tips
Children and young people should be encouraged to be vigilant when using online applications to communicate with friends and family. They should only talk to people they know in the real world, and if someone they do not know approaches them, they should tell a trusted adult.
As mobile devices now allow access to the internet, parents need to be aware that their children may be using their mobile phone or handheld games console to go online. Even if the computer is in a family room, this is no longer the only way of managing what your children are doing online, especially if you have wireless broadband connectivity in your house or they have mobiles with internet access. Talk to your children and arrange a plan of action with regards to when and how they will access the internet.
Children’s use of online environments is changing their way of thinking - parents need to ensure that their children understand that -  as much as they may believe someone they have met online is a friend - they still don’t really know who that person is.
Be aware of the environments your children are accessing and remember that it’s no longer just the computer which allows online access.

Offender behaviour
There has been a significant change in the behaviour shown by offenders in online environments. They are using more intimidating tactics to engage with, exploit and abuse children in an ever increasing converged environment, as described above. This can involve threats, hacking into accounts and using blackmail to engage and groom young people, placing them in a situation where they have little or no control.

In the last year, there has been an increase in the number of children who have reported that they have been asked to perform sexual acts on webcam. There has also been a  corresponding increase in the amount of self-generated images by children themselves, usually with a sexually suggestive theme. These self-generated images are being used by offenders to blackmail and threaten young people to take part in further sexual abuse, and provides the offenders with the ability to use these images to increase their status in paedophile networks or assist in the grooming process.

It is likely that this new type of behaviour is as a result of improved public awareness, education and parental supervision - the public are now more aware of the potential risks faced online. Children and young people are now better equipped to combat the traditional grooming techniques that have been used to date, both online and offline - and therefore offenders are having to change their own tactics.

This is not intended to be alarmist. Far from it. The drive to make children, young people and their parents, carers and guardians more aware of the risk is a vital and important step forward. Instead this is about learning and staying ahead of the new risks – forewarned is forearmed.

Top tips
Children and young people need to remember that any images they post on the internet may be there forever. These photos, which to a young person may seem completely innocent, can be changed and amended and used elsewhere by anybody who can access them. Therefore, it is very important to ensure that privacy settings prevent strangers viewing these images. Any photos that children wouldn’t want to share with their relatives at the dinner table should not be put on the internet.
If someone a child is talking to online asks them to engage in inappropriate behaviour, they should tell a trusted adult straight away, or report their concerns to CEOP using the ‘Report Abuse’ button (www.ceop.gov.uk <file://www.ceop.gov.uk> )
Webcams should only be used when children and young people are communicating with someone they know in the real world. If an ‘online friend’ asks them to communicate using a webcam, they should again tell a trusted adult or report it to CEOP.

Technology
Over the last year, virtual and gaming online environments have increased in popularity amongst children and young people. We are seeing younger children accessing these sites and this is resulting in possible inappropriate contact with adults. As we stated earlier, the convergence in technology has meant that the integration of online gaming with other technologies, for example instant messaging into social networking sites, creates an even greater risk.

The concern regarding mobile technology and the ability to access the internet via mobile phones continues, with the integration of mobile services and location based services, whereby GPS technology is integrated into mobile phones. Having the ability to locate a child via this media creates a significantly enhanced risk to children by sex offenders.

The use of peer-to-peer technology (P2P) for the distribution and sharing of child abuse images, as well as providing an apparently easy way for offenders to network is also developing. The number of cases where P2P technology is involved has increased dramatically.

Top tips
Children and young people should remember that the people they play online games with really are strangers, even if they feel they know them really well. If someone they do not know tries to engage them, they should tell a trusted adult and not communicate with that person.
Internet access via mobile phones and other handheld devices is increasing. Be aware of the devices your children have and whether they have an online ability. Talk to your child about how they use these devices and come to an arrangement around usage so you still have some control over what they are doing.
As before, young people should be encouraged to tell a trusted adult or report to CEOP any suspicions they have around people they do not know trying to communicate with them.
To view and download CEOP’s 2007/2008 Strategic Overview in full, please visit www.ceop.gov.uk.

Find out more…..
You can now register to receive our bi-monthly e-bulletin which provides information to subscribers on all areas of the work of CEOP. Visit www.ceop.gov.uk  to find out more.

Help us in the fight to locate missing child sex offenders- register to receive updates when more details are released or new offenders are posted on the site. Visit www.ceop.gov.uk/wanted

What is CEOP again……?
CEOP is the police agency specifically set up to tackle the sexual abuse of children in the UK. Find out more about our work at www.ceop.gov.uk  and register for updates on all areas of our activity.

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