Council for Child Internet Safety to launch early

A UK council developed to keep children safe online is to be launched early, the Government has said.

Kevin Brennan, Minister for Children and Young People, and Vernon Coaker, Home Office Minister, said the UK Council for Child Internet Safety will launch in September 2008, six months ahead of the recommended timescale.

The council was one of the recommendations made in the Government’s Safer Children in a Digital World report, published in March. It stemmed from a review last September, which was headed by psychologist Dr Tanya Byron.

Dr Byron recommended that the council include representatives from the Government, internet industry, children's charities and other key stakeholders such as children, young people and parent panels.

She also said a website where parents could find out more information about online safety should be set up and that public information and awareness campaigns should support this.

The Government accepted all Dr Byron’s recommendations and said the council would be responsible for developing and leading a Child Internet Safety Strategy and advising Government on e-safety.

It also outlined plans for the first Child Internet Safety Summit hosted by the Prime Minister for spring 2009.

Mr Brennan said: “By developing an e-safety strategy together, we can help children to learn and play safe online whilst at the same time supporting parents to manage new pressures they face in a modern technological world.”