NSPCC: Flaw In The Law
The NSPCC launched
its Flaw in the Law campaign on
Friday 24th October 2014, proposing the creation of a stand-alone offence of an
adult knowingly sending a sexual communication to a child.
Online
abuse of children and young people has emerged as
one of the key child protection challenges facing our society today.
We know that many children and young people are engaging in risky online behaviour, including being in contact with people via social networks who are not directly known to them, sharing personal information that makes them vulnerable to abuse and sharing indecent pictures and videos of themselves with peers and strangers. Young people tell us they are experiencing all sorts of new forms of abuse on a scale never before seen, and many parents tell us that keeping their child safe online is their main concern for the welfare of their child.
In
early 2015, we will be launching a significant campaign aimed at parents,
focusing on providing knowledge to help better protect their children online,
giving them information about social networking sites and privacy settings and
also giving them the tools to speak to pre-teens in an age-appropriate way
about how they can stay safe online.
We know from ChildLine that many children are being groomed
online, but, increasingly, the intention is not for the abuser to meet the
child, but for them to get the child to exchange explicit messages. When this
is the case, we are concerned that the law as it stands does not provide
adequate protection. NSPCC is, therefore, calling for a new offence to make it
illegal for an adult to knowingly exchange sexual communications with a child,
in order to make sure the law is able to keep up with technology.
How you can help?
Sign Up: We have launched an e-petition - we need as many supporters as
possible to sign up to and to distribute the petition
Social Media: Tweet your support "I support @nspcc
Flaw in the Law campaign #flawedlaw"? or Like and
Share our Facebook posts at www.facebook.com/nspcccymruwales
Useful Links:
THINKUKNOW - A brilliant website full of information and videos about Sexual Exploitation
What Is Sexting? - Great advice and guidance
CEOP Safety Centre - How to report a concern and find support
GetSafeOnline - Learn how to protect your computer and yourself online
MEIC - Call, text or IM for free, 24/7, in confidence with your questions or concerns
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Info || People in Your Life || Communication and When Things Go Wrong || Abuse
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Image Source: NSPCC website
