(Picture posed by model)
LOCAL children are at risk from internet paedophiles and parents can do more to protect them, police have warned.
Officers have investigated two incidents involving young girls who are feared to have been groomed by men off-island. They are urging parents to take action to prevent this from happening.
‘Just because we live on an island does not mean we are immune. We do feel safe in our little community but there are people out there who will try,’ said Inspector Garry Fusellier. ‘Children might not realise they are being groomed so it’s really for parents to try and spot.
‘Would we leave our child alone in a strange area or let them enter adult-only shops or go to meet a perfect stranger?
‘Unfortunately, this is the risk you run when allowing your child to use the internet without supervision.’
Parents contacted police concerned that their underage daughter was at risk from an unknown man with whom she was communicating via an online chatroom.
He initially appeared to be her age, but as the ‘conversation’ progressed it became clear he was much older. He tried to arrange a meeting, but the cost of flights to the island put him off.
Inspector Fusellier said it was likely he was grooming the girl, possibly for sex.
‘Her parents eventually discovered it and brought it to our attention. They had taken an interest in their child’s online access and had seen the danger signs, which is good parenting,’ he said.
In another similar incident the girl involved was of legal age, but Inspector Fusellier said it was still a case of grooming nevertheless.
Parents can reduce the risk of their children being targeted by familiarising themselves with how they use the internet and the sites they access, he said.
Supervision is effective but not always practical so protective software, which can prohibit access to certain types of images, words or certain Usenet groupºs, can be useful.
Guernsey Computers manager Jamie To said many customers at his store were not web-wise.
‘Most of the time people just buy software to protect their computers rather than their children.’
He said protection available included programs that record everything that is typed so it can be read back later and restrictive software that allowed only certain sites to be visited.
An internet filtering system is used in all schools to ensure pupils can only access suitable sites and internet safety is covered in ICT, citizenship and personal, social and health education lessons.
A spokesman from Education said primary-school pupils were made aware that people to whom they were talking in chatrooms or on social networking sites were not always who they said they were, and were told what they should and should not do with regard to giving personal information.
* More information on protecting children is in a leaflet issued by police, or at www.ceop.gov.uk
Article posted on 6th March, 2008 - 2.30pm
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