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Campaign offers help to those who view online abuse images | Campaign offers help to those who view online abuse images |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A national internet video campaign has been launched to encourage people who view images of child sexual abuse online to seek help. | A national internet video campaign has been launched to encourage people who view images of child sexual abuse online to seek help. |
The videos feature warnings of the harm done by viewing such images. | The videos feature warnings of the harm done by viewing such images. |
The Lucy Faithfull Foundation (LFF) said it was aimed to deter would-be offenders and encourage them to seek therapy before being arrested. | The Lucy Faithfull Foundation (LFF) said it was aimed to deter would-be offenders and encourage them to seek therapy before being arrested. |
Viewing or sharing an image of someone under the age of 18 carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years. | Viewing or sharing an image of someone under the age of 18 carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years. |
'Vast' problem | 'Vast' problem |
The NCA's Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command estimates there are more than 50,000 people in the UK who share and download obscene images of children. | |
Keith Bristow, the head of the National Crime Agency, previously admitted the scale of the problem meant it was not possible for all offenders to be brought to justice. | Keith Bristow, the head of the National Crime Agency, previously admitted the scale of the problem meant it was not possible for all offenders to be brought to justice. |
The new campaign has been set up by Stop it Now! UK & Ireland - a child sexual abuse prevention campaign run by the LFF charity, which seeks to reduce the risk of children being sexually abused. | The new campaign has been set up by Stop it Now! UK & Ireland - a child sexual abuse prevention campaign run by the LFF charity, which seeks to reduce the risk of children being sexually abused. |
Donald Findlater, director of research and development for the LFF, said recent research indicated as many as 10% of those who look at child abuse images may go on to abuse a child. | Donald Findlater, director of research and development for the LFF, said recent research indicated as many as 10% of those who look at child abuse images may go on to abuse a child. |
He said: "The sooner we stop people viewing indecent images of children online, the fewer children will be abused." | He said: "The sooner we stop people viewing indecent images of children online, the fewer children will be abused." |
'Not a monster' | 'Not a monster' |
One of those who viewed such images - who the BBC is calling Dave - was sentenced this year for possession of indecent images. | One of those who viewed such images - who the BBC is calling Dave - was sentenced this year for possession of indecent images. |
He said he had been "addicted" to adult pornography for years before he started looking for material including children. | He said he had been "addicted" to adult pornography for years before he started looking for material including children. |
"Through various pop-ups and so on, there would be school girl type images, and so on, and gradually more and more degrees which eventually led through to underage images". | "Through various pop-ups and so on, there would be school girl type images, and so on, and gradually more and more degrees which eventually led through to underage images". |
"I do recall after very initially seeing any images that I was totally disgusted with myself for having done that - but at the same time I went back." | "I do recall after very initially seeing any images that I was totally disgusted with myself for having done that - but at the same time I went back." |
He was arrested last year, convicted, given a community sentence and placed on the sex offenders' register. | He was arrested last year, convicted, given a community sentence and placed on the sex offenders' register. |
He also agreed to undergo therapy. | He also agreed to undergo therapy. |
"I always suspected that one day there would be a knock at the door and when it came I was very petrified, but certainly as time has gone on there has been a huge sense of relief." | "I always suspected that one day there would be a knock at the door and when it came I was very petrified, but certainly as time has gone on there has been a huge sense of relief." |
"I'm not a monster. I am just an ordinary person that you might just pass in the street." | "I'm not a monster. I am just an ordinary person that you might just pass in the street." |
The videos have been put together with help from the police and include comments from offenders - voiced by actors - who describe what a conviction did to their lives. | The videos have been put together with help from the police and include comments from offenders - voiced by actors - who describe what a conviction did to their lives. |
The videos also explain that the viewing of the images is not a victimless crime and highlight the harm done to children involved, as well as the consequences for the lives of people who access the images. | The videos also explain that the viewing of the images is not a victimless crime and highlight the harm done to children involved, as well as the consequences for the lives of people who access the images. |
One shows officers knocking on the door of a man's home before his wife and child watch him being taken away in handcuffs. | One shows officers knocking on the door of a man's home before his wife and child watch him being taken away in handcuffs. |
Help is then offered through a confidential helpline run by the LFF, which can also organise group or individual therapy. | Help is then offered through a confidential helpline run by the LFF, which can also organise group or individual therapy. |
The videos are going to be rolled out across social media and through carefully placed online advertising. | The videos are going to be rolled out across social media and through carefully placed online advertising. |
There have been similar initiatives in Holland and Germany which have targeted men who admit to being sexually attracted to children. | There have been similar initiatives in Holland and Germany which have targeted men who admit to being sexually attracted to children. |
'Shame, guilt, remorse' | 'Shame, guilt, remorse' |
Research published by the NSPCC in July this year revealed offenders are being convicted at the rate of two per day for possession of obscene images. | Research published by the NSPCC in July this year revealed offenders are being convicted at the rate of two per day for possession of obscene images. |
A study of 100 court cases found police had seized 4.5 million images of child sexual abuse. | A study of 100 court cases found police had seized 4.5 million images of child sexual abuse. |
Campaigners fear some of those those who look at the images may move on to abuse. | Campaigners fear some of those those who look at the images may move on to abuse. |
Dave who was convicted of possessing indecent images says he now feels, "a great sense of shame, guilt, remorse for my bad behaviours that I had". | Dave who was convicted of possessing indecent images says he now feels, "a great sense of shame, guilt, remorse for my bad behaviours that I had". |
His advice for other men and women in his position is simple. | His advice for other men and women in his position is simple. |
"Get help before, before you're arrested, there is a path, there are a lot of very good people out there to help you, pick up the phone and start talking to someone". | "Get help before, before you're arrested, there is a path, there are a lot of very good people out there to help you, pick up the phone and start talking to someone". |
"The best thing to do is to start to talk". | "The best thing to do is to start to talk". |
An NSPCC spokesman said it welcomed the efforts made to stop people viewing abuse images, but added: "But we mustn't forget there are thousands of young victims and similar efforts should be made to ensure they are identified, rescued and given protection and support." | An NSPCC spokesman said it welcomed the efforts made to stop people viewing abuse images, but added: "But we mustn't forget there are thousands of young victims and similar efforts should be made to ensure they are identified, rescued and given protection and support." |
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