This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-11472033

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Online child protection chief Jim Gamble resigns Online child protection chief Jim Gamble resigns
(40 minutes later)
The chief executive of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (Ceop) has resigned in a row over its future, the BBC has learned.The chief executive of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (Ceop) has resigned in a row over its future, the BBC has learned.
The Home Office confirmed the Home Secretary had accepted Jim Gamble's resignation letter. The Home Office confirmed the home secretary had accepted Jim Gamble's resignation letter.
He did not believe the decision to assimilate Ceop into the National Crime Agency was in the best interests of children and young people. MrGamble did not believe the decision to assimilate Ceop into the National Crime Agency was in the best interests of children and young people.
The merger proposal was outlined by Theresa May in July.The merger proposal was outlined by Theresa May in July.
Ceop told the BBC it "does not feel that it is in the best interests of children and young people for Ceop to be assimilated into the National Crime Agency, as was announced a short while ago. In a statement Ceop said: "The Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre does not feel that it is in the best interests of children and young people for Ceop to be assimilated into the National Crime Agency, as was announced a short while ago.
"This direction of travel does not seem to have changed and Ceop's CEO, Jim Gamble, has therefore offered his resignation to the Home Secretary with a four month notice period. We are not prepared to comment further." "This direction of travel does not seem to have changed and Ceop's CEO, Jim Gamble, has therefore today offered his resignation to the home secretary with a four month notice period."
A spokesperson for the Home Secretary she had accepted his resignation on Monday evening. Mrs May said: "As chief executive Jim Gamble has done a great job at Ceop and made a huge contribution to protecting children. I wish him all the best for the future and arrangements for his successor will be outlined in due course
He added that the home secretary continued to believe wholeheartedly in Ceop, and how it currently functions and that Mr Gamble's resignation follows a difference of opinion over the future structure of Ceop. "The government recognises the importance of child protection and wants to build upon the work of CEOP, but does not necessarily feel this is best done by creating a new quango."
It is understood that Ceop has made representations to the government since the announcement that its work was to become part of the proposed National Crime Agency.It is understood that Ceop has made representations to the government since the announcement that its work was to become part of the proposed National Crime Agency.
'Damaging departure'
Ceop is currently affiliated to the Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca).
It is believed that Mr Gamble was keen on gaining more independence for the agency rather than allowing it to become part of a greater National Crime Agency.
It felt it would lose its identity and priorities given to its work would be devalued.
BBC home affairs correspondent June Kelly said Mr Gamble was said to be very angry about the way the situation had developed.
His departure was damaging and a loss in terms of child protection, our correspondent added.
Claude Knights, direrctor of anti-bullying charity Kidscape said Ceop had proven its worth and the news was concerning.
"It is so sudden as well and to have a person with as much experience as Jim Gamble being taken away from the horizon, really at such speed is a worry, because he is a leader in this field," she said.
Ceop was set up in 2006 with the aim of finding and convicting online paedophiles.
Mr Gamble was head of Northern Ireland's anti-terrorist unit before joining the agency and was one of five senior police figures shortlisted to replace Sir Hugh Orde after he stepped down as chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
As Ceop chief executive Mr Gamble led calls for Facebook to set up a "panic button" to give reassurance for young users. The application has been downloaded tens of thousands of times since its launch in July.