A virtual police service has been launched aimed at protecting hundreds of thousands of young people in Scotland against online sex abuse.

The programme allows children to forward instantly any concerning material to the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre, the UK's dedicated organisation tackling child sex abuse. The police will then investigate, arrest and ultimately bring to account any offenders.

CEOP began the roll-out of its ThinkuKnow programme, designed by an amalgamation of police, child protection and IT specialists and children, at Woodfarm High School, Thornliebank, near Glasgow yesterday. The scheme, which advises youngsters to "have fun, stay in control, know how to report", will then be extended into schools, foster homes and other youth environments across the UK.

An estimated 300,000 youngsters aged between 11 and 16 will be given the opportunity to attend interactive safety sessions.

Jim Gamble, chief executive of the CEOP centre, said: "Where children go then the predator will follow and in the same way as we safeguard our playgrounds, our parks, our streets, we must secure in whatever way possible the public place that is the internet."

The facts

  • One in 12 children has met someone offline who they were initially engaged with online.
  • Some 31% of young people have received unwanted sexual comment online or by text message though only 7% of parents are aware of this.
  • Internet access in the bedroom is more common among children aged 12-15 compared with eight-11 year olds.
  • Girls aged between 12-15 are more likely to have access in their bedrooms compared with boys of the same age.
  • One in five children said they had set up their own website.