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The Government Internet Taskforce

The Home Secretary announced the setting up of the Internet Taskforce on Child Protection on 28 March 2001 in response to a report by the Internet Crime Forum, which made a number of recommendations that included the display of safety messages and the improved supervision of chat rooms.

WiredSafety was invited to sit on three of the sub-committees, Law Enforcement, Criminal Law & Child Protection. Initially, Parry was going to go to all the committees, but her heavy workload meant that she could not be in the U.K. as often as was necessary. So I was asked to step in & attend the meetings, and I was more than happy to oblige!

The Taskforce is chaired by Home Office Minister Beverley Hughes and is a partnership between representatives of the Internet Industry, child welfare organisations, the Police and the Government.

The Taskforce aims are:

• To review Internet content rating systems and develop a "kitemarking" scheme for chat rooms which deliver child friendly services.
• To develop "safe surfing" education and awareness campaigns for parents and children.
• To enhance co-operation between police and communications service providers.
• To enhance co-operation between the police and communications service providers in the course of their investigations.
• To review existing legislation to ensure that the law continues to protect children from 'grooming' and other forms of abuse and keeps in step with changes in technology.

The Taskforce made several recommendations in an interim report to the Home Secretary, David Blunkett in the July 2001. The next report will be made on 3rd July 2002 and Parry will be present.

This is a very exciting development for the U.K. We are the first country to look at Internet Laws and Child Protections as a whole; even the U.S. has not done this as yet.

Positive things have already come out of the committees.

• A TV and radio campaign to raise the awareness of children in chat rooms is now being seen and heard across the country.
• The Police Letters are now obtained from the CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) and an enhanced letter can be obtained for chat room hosts at the request of their employers/organisation. Legislation was required to get this amendment and it is already on the statute books.
• A One-Stop Shop is being created for reporting child pornography, grooming attempts etc
• Prison sentences for offenders have been greatly increased, from 2 months minimum to 5 years minimum.

We are hoping to issue Best Practice Guidelines at the end of the summer & I will keep you all informed as to our progress.

Merlin

• Follow this link to the Internet Task Force Home Page >>