Web paedophiles a risk to children

Primary school children are increasingly at risk from paedophiles who target youngsters on the internet.

The Child Exploitation and Online Protection (Ceop) Centre has called on teachers and parents to make sure young children are aware of the dangers.

Staffed by specialist police officers, Ceop is launching a new Cybercafe website next week to help youngsters learn how to have fun online safely.

The site has a link for parents and older children who want to report incidents, such as conversations with "someone online who you think may be an adult, who is trying to meet you for sex".

Ceop chief executive Jim Gamble said children as young as eight were becoming increasingly sophisticated in the way they use the internet.

"But where the natural, innocent naivety of children collides with the open and often unrestricted nature of the virtual world then their safety is always going to be called into question," he said.

"We see that danger first hand all the time. At Ceop we receive on average 10 reports a month relating specifically to children between the ages of eight and 11. That should concern us all.

"And yet we know from Ofcom that over 40% of this age group are regularly using the internet and 7% of 10 year olds even have their own webcams. That trend is growing.

"But this is not about sensationalist headlines in order to strike fear - far from it. We want children to use the internet. We want them to benefit from the whole multitude of opportunities it opens up. But we want them to do it in a way that safeguards their time in the virtual world."

He said he wanted primary pupils to sit down with adults they trust and explore the new resources.

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