Parents and kids educated on the threat of web paedophiles

The UK government has launched a new initiative to better educate parents and children on the risks of internet chatrooms and the paedophiles who prey upon them.

A new 'code of practice' has been launched which outlines ways in which youngsters can protect themselves while surfing the net. It is hoped the new initiative will crackdown on the practice of 'grooming' whereby paedophiles use chatrooms to befriend and win the trust of children by engaging in online conversations with them. The guidelines have been prepared by the Government's Taskforce on Child Protection on the Internet.

The scheme is also intended to alert parents and children to the threat posed by the anonymity of the internet. Many paedophiles pose as children themselves to increase the chances of meeting their victims, often playing upon the fact that naïve parents are probably less concerned if they believe their child is in touch with surfers of a similar age.

The launch of www.thinkuknow.co.uk is being backed up with a £1m advertising campaign to ensure parents and children are aware of the advice it has to offer.

Home Office Minister Hilary Benn said: "The internet has opened up a new world for children which is educational, informative and, most of all fun. But we are aware of the potential for paedophiles to misuse modern technology to abuse the trust that children place in them by attempting to 'groom' them through chat rooms.

"We want to encourage parents to help their children protect themselves so they can surf safely. Parents can play a role in making their children aware that strangers on the internet may not always be who they say they are. The messages to children are clear - do not give out personal contact details online, and never meet up with someone you have met online unless accompanied by an adult."