Welcome Change To CEOP’S Status

In response to the Ministerial Statement published today about the Child
Exploitation and Online Protection Centre’s (CEOP) future, Keith Towler, Children’s
Commissioner for Wales, Patricia Lewsley, Northern Ireland Commissioner for
Children and Young People, Tam Baillie, Scotland’s Commissioner for Children and
Young People and Sir Al Aynsley-Green, Children’s Commissioner for England said:

“The safety of our children is paramount. We therefore welcome the government’s
decision to put children’s safety first by allowing the CEOP Centre to become an
independent organisation. This will strengthen the CEOP Centre’s presence in the UK
and will also enhance its reputation as a world-leading organisation, protecting some of
the most vulnerable children and young people in our society.

“We also welcome the widening remit of the Centre. Whilst it will continue its efforts to
work in both online and offline environments to protect children from sexual exploitation,
it will become a centre of expertise for work with missing children. This is a significant
step in the right direction to protect our children.”