Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP)

The Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre is dedicated to eradicating the sexual abuse of children and is part of the UK police force.

The CEOP also overseas specialist areas such as their:
Behavioural Analysis Unit
Victim identification
Child Trafficking Unit
Most Wanted initiative

In fact the real lifeblood of the CEOP Centre is intelligence – how offenders operate and think, how children and young people behave and how technological advances are developing.

This website is packed full of brilliant information that will help keep a young person safe while they engage in their ‘online life’.  It has different age specific tips on how children can be protected online and gives great resources and advice for both parents and teachers alike.

The Centre also runs the UK ThinUknow programme for children and parents of all ages.

Your advice and Help Centre  

This page is dedicated to helping young people who feel they have been inappropriately approached online.  It is very empowering for a young person and states:

“You are clearly concerned about something that may have happened while online, but you are now in control. If you are in immediate danger or want urgent help call 999 or contact your local police. Otherwise here are a number of ways to receive help and advice as well as the option to report any instance of sexual contact or harmful material to us at the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre. You are doing the right thing and by taking this action you may not only help yourself but also help make other people safer as well.”

There is advice on the following topics:
• Cyberbullying
• Hacking
• Viruses
• Mobile Problems
• Harmful Content
• Grooming (Sexual Behaviour)

There is also a link to the program ThinkUKnow which has excellent information for teachers and parents alike.

CEOP has launched a new 10 minute drama called ‘Exposed’ primarily aimed at 14 to 18 year olds.

‘Exposed’ deals with the subjects of sexting and cyberbullying, issues that teenagers commonly face. This new film and other ThinkUknow resources, give parents, carers and teachers the opportunity to talk to young people about what they do online.

There is also a section on “Frequently Asked Questions” (Everything you wanted to know but were afraid to ask!) which gives information on issues like:
• Grooming
• Mobiles
• Gaming
• Social networking
• chat

Other resources include:
• Are you a switched-on mum or a digital dad?  Take the parent test…
• Get the latest safety info for your children.  Register here…
• Do you want to make a report on behalf of your child?
• Where’s KLAUS? Check out the latest internet safety film…
• Purely for Parents Download the latest webcast… 
 
Writer Helen Splarn. Editor Dr Ramesh Manocha.
Source:  Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre