14/09/2004

Goggins hails UK's child internet and mobile safety record

Britain continues to lead the world in internet and mobile safety as a result of the "collaborative approach and shared understanding of stakeholders working together to keep young people safe", Home Office Minister Paul Goggins said today.

Speaking at the Promoting Mobile and Internet Safety Conference, Mr Goggins reiterated the government's commitment to protecting children on and off-line and said it was working to reduce mobile phone theft and "design out" crime through partnership with the police and mobile phone industry.

The Home Office Minister said: "Mobile phone technology and the Internet offer valuable services but at the same time we are aware of the potential for criminals to misuse this technology.

"The government is committed to protecting our children - ensuring the police have the powers to detect and pursue offenders; the courts have the powers to deal with them; and introducing an offence of 'grooming' to tackle paedophile activity on and off-line."

Internet safety and consumer protection would be best achieved, he said, through co-operation with the industry.

During Parents Online week in October, the Home Office will be unveiling new radio and online advertising which aims to target children with safety advice when they are most at risk - when they are actually online.

Research carried out earlier this year revealed that no less than 94% of the young people sampled realised that people online may not be who they say they are whilst 89% knew they should not give out contact details to people they meet online.

"These statistics are very encouraging, but we know that despite this some children still put themselves at risk. That is why I will be unveiling new radio and online advertising during Parents Online week in October, to ensure we continue to reach the right people with the right messages," Mr Goggins concluded.

(MB/GMCG)

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