This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Campaign to protect children using internet
07/01/2002
A UK-wide advertising campaign to protect children using
the Internet was launched today.
Cathy Jamieson, Minister for Education and Young People,
said that the second phase of the campaign - 'know the net'
- would target young teenagers directly through radio and
cinema adverts and information in the teenage press.
Ms Jamieson said:
"There are many positive benefits of the Internet but
there are also hidden dangers - a small minority use
chatrooms as a first step to sexually exploiting children
and young people.
"Children giving out personal details or phone numbers
online are putting themselves at risk. We must help
children to help themselves by taking some simple
precautions. And equally important, parents and carers need
to have information and advice so that they can help ensure
Internet chat is a harm-free experience.
"I fully support this vital UK campaign which the
Scottish Executive is supporting financially."
Protecting children online is one of a number of
initiatives focused on improving child safety. These
include:
- Reviewing the Internet safety guidance
'ClickThinking' issued to schools and local
authorities;
- Forthcoming guidance on effective intervention and
support for children abused through prostitution; and
more widely;
- A major Child Protection Review which aims to
reduce the number of children abused and neglected in
Scotland and to improve the services offered to
affected children.
The Minister continued:
"I want children to be at the centre of our policies
with services shaped around their needs. Protecting them
from neglect, abuse and exploitation is at the top of my
New Year resolutions."
A £1.5 million internet child safety campaign was
launched by the Home Office on 3 December 2001. The
Scottish Executive is meeting the costs of publicity in
Scotland - around £300,000. The campaign follows a
recommendation by the Government's Task Force on Child
Protection on the Internet to raise public awareness of the
activities of paedophiles in Internet chatrooms and the
steps users can take to protect themselves. Further details
of the campaign are available from Tim Watkinson, Home
Office Press Office on 020 7273 4513.
The first phase used adverts in newspapers and magazines
to encourage parents to 'wise up to the net' and help their
children avoid chatroom approaches from paedophiles. A
special booklet is available to parents from UK Online on
0800 77 1234, with further details on the website -
www.wiseuptothenet.co.uk
The second phase, aimed at teenagers, involves radio
adverts for three weeks beginning today, six weeks of
cinema adverts from 18 January to 28 February, postcards to
schools, and a website -
www.thinkuknow.co.uk
'ClickThinking' was issued by the Scottish Executive
Education Department in 1999 to promote safe and
responsible use of the Internet both at school and at home.
In March 2001, an Action Group to Review Internet Safety
(AGRIS) was set up to revise the existing guidance. The
group has made a number of suggestions about updating
ClickThinking, and revised guidance to education
authorities and schools is being prepared.
The Scottish Executive has agreed with Chairs of Child
Protection Committees across Scotland to prepare guidance
on effective intervention and support for children abused
through prostitution. A working group will be set up to
take this work forward
A review of child protection arrangements in Scotland
was announced in March 2001 following the Hammond report
into the tragic death of Kennedy McFarlane. In November
2001, a consultation process was launched so that a range
of organisations and individuals associated with child
protection could contribute their views. The review is
expected to conclude this summer.