Online Child Grooming Online Child Grooming (OCG)(OCG)

Zaibaa, Jess, Tom Zaibaa, Jess, Tom

What is Online Child Grooming?What is Online Child Grooming?

Actions deliberately undertaken with the aim of Actions deliberately undertaken with the aim of befriending and establishing an emotional connection befriending and establishing an emotional connection with a child, in order to lower the child's guard and with a child, in order to lower the child's guard and inhibitions in preparation for sexual activity with the child, inhibitions in preparation for sexual activity with the child, or exploitation e.g. Child Labour.or exploitation e.g. Child Labour.

OCG Child grooming may be used to lure minors into OCG Child grooming may be used to lure minors into illicit businesses such as child prostitution or the illicit businesses such as child prostitution or the production of child pornography.production of child pornography.

What does OCG entail?What does OCG entail?

Involves: Psychological manipulation in the form of Involves: Psychological manipulation in the form of positive reinforcement, foot-in-the-door tactics, using positive reinforcement, foot-in-the-door tactics, using activities that are typically legal but later lead to illegal activities that are typically legal but later lead to illegal activities.activities.

Why’s this done?Why’s this done? This is done to gain the child's trust as well as the trust of This is done to gain the child's trust as well as the trust of

those responsible for the child's well-being. A trusting those responsible for the child's well-being. A trusting relationship with the family means the child's parents are relationship with the family means the child's parents are less likely to believe potential accusations.less likely to believe potential accusations.

What effect does it have on What effect does it have on people?people?

For victims of OCG it is harrowing and scarringFor victims of OCG it is harrowing and scarring Victims are left with the feeling that nobody can be Victims are left with the feeling that nobody can be

trusted. In the past has led to children losing trust in trusted. In the past has led to children losing trust in even 1even 1stst degree relatives. degree relatives.

Parents are left feeling uneasy. In most cases they’re Parents are left feeling uneasy. In most cases they’re also left with a feeling that that they’re not fit parents and also left with a feeling that that they’re not fit parents and have let down their children.have let down their children.

Real Life examples of OCG in Real Life examples of OCG in action…action…

Michael Williams used Facebook and Bebo to groom Michael Williams used Facebook and Bebo to groom 500 known victims however he admitted that in fact there 500 known victims however he admitted that in fact there are up to are up to 1,000 1,000 children in total which he groomed.children in total which he groomed. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1282157/Fachttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1282157/Facebook-grooming-How-pervert-postman-used-site-groebook-grooming-How-pervert-postman-used-site-groom-hundreds-children.htmlom-hundreds-children.html

James Jenkins, was jailed for two and a half years after James Jenkins, was jailed for two and a half years after grooming a 14 year old boy online. grooming a 14 year old boy online.

Peter Chapman sexually abused and murdered Peter Chapman sexually abused and murdered Ashleigh Hall 17, after meeting her through facebook. Ashleigh Hall 17, after meeting her through facebook.

R v TR v T (2005) , the appellant, aged 43, had pretended to (2005) , the appellant, aged 43, had pretended to befriend a nine-year-old girl, but had done very little with befriend a nine-year-old girl, but had done very little with her before she became suspicious and reported his her before she became suspicious and reported his approaches. He had a number of previous convictions approaches. He had a number of previous convictions (including one for rape) and was described as a (including one for rape) and was described as a "relentless, predatory paedophile". The Court of Appeal "relentless, predatory paedophile". The Court of Appeal upheld a longer than commensurate sentence of eight upheld a longer than commensurate sentence of eight years' imprisonment with an extended licence period of years' imprisonment with an extended licence period of two years.two years.

What regulation is in place to What regulation is in place to prevent OCG?prevent OCG?

In the UK there is legislation in place against it (s15, In the UK there is legislation in place against it (s15, Sexual Offences Act 2003, England & Wales)Sexual Offences Act 2003, England & Wales)

The govt has set up an organisation called the Child The govt has set up an organisation called the Child Exploitation & Online Protection Centre (CEOP). formed Exploitation & Online Protection Centre (CEOP). formed in April 2006. CEOP work both nationally and in April 2006. CEOP work both nationally and internationally to bring online child sex offenders, internationally to bring online child sex offenders, including those involved in the production, distribution including those involved in the production, distribution and viewing of child pornography, to the UK courts. and viewing of child pornography, to the UK courts. http://http://www.ceop.police.ukwww.ceop.police.uk//

What does this tell us about What does this tell us about Internet regulation?Internet regulation?

Regulation of the internet has been increased and there Regulation of the internet has been increased and there is a lot in place to protect children.is a lot in place to protect children.

Children need protecting as does everybody else. Children need protecting as does everybody else.