Agnieszka has worked for the Nobody’s Children Foundation as Helpline.org.pl project consultant for 3 years. She is a criminologist and a graduate of the Institute of Social Prevention and Resocialisation at the University of Warsaw. She gained experience in the field of social prevention during placements with D.O.M Foundation, Local Police Headquaters Warszawa II and Nobody’s Children Foundation. She carried out a number of trainings for professionals (teachers, educators, school psychologists, social workers, police officers, prosecutors) in the area of children and young people’s safety on the internet.

29 September, Wednesday, 14.30 – 16.30

Parallel session: Sesion for law enforcement

Presentation title: Grooming - analysis of cases reported to Helpline.org.pl

Helpline.org.pl is a project which helps the youngest internet users whose safety is threatened while using new technologies. One of the threats reported to our team is internet grooming committed by adult abusers. Until now we have received around 400 reports constituting suspected child welfare threats arising from relationships initiated with adults on the Internet. The legal changes that came to force on 8 June 2010 and accompanying public campaigns frame a new direction in fighting these threats. Still, internet child grooming is in most cases a process that is complex and difficult to diagnose. It does not always end in a contact with the victim in reality, but in all cases it results in deep harm done to the young person. The aim of the presentation is to analyse this process on the basis of some examples of reports which Helpline.org.pl deals with.