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Pier23 - tackling Online haRMS
News
In May 2023, Graham was delighted to support a major conference, focussed on tackling online harms.
The Graham Dacre Charitable Foundation was the title sponsor of PIER23 – the conference of the Policing Institute for the Eastern Region, which focused on Tackling Online Harms – a Whole System Approach.
Held on the 23rd and 24th May at Anglia Ruskin University in Essex, and also streamed online, the event brought together more than 50 speakers from across the globe, each with a role and responsibility for tackling the global epidemic of online child sexual abuse.
More than 1300 delegates registered to attend, and speakers represented organisations including the National Police Chiefs’ Council, OnlyFans, WeProtect Global Alliance, Ofcom and the NSPCC. Tom Tugendhat MP, Minister for Security, also addressed delegates, confirming government commitment to tackling this issue and announcing the forthcoming launch of a public campaign aimed at raising awareness of Meta’s plans to introduce end to end encryption, and what this means for child safety.
Held on the 23rd and 24th May at Anglia Ruskin University in Essex, and also streamed online, the event brought together more than 50 speakers from across the globe, each with a role and responsibility for tackling the global epidemic of online child sexual abuse.
More than 1300 delegates registered to attend, and speakers represented organisations including the National Police Chiefs’ Council, OnlyFans, WeProtect Global Alliance, Ofcom and the NSPCC. Tom Tugendhat MP, Minister for Security, also addressed delegates, confirming government commitment to tackling this issue and announcing the forthcoming launch of a public campaign aimed at raising awareness of Meta’s plans to introduce end to end encryption, and what this means for child safety.
Graham delivered a speech at the opening of the event, during which he said:
“The global pandemic of online child sexual abuse is an international issue. It is a crime that doesn't recognise cultural, social, or geographic barriers. It’s indiscriminate, and intolerably harmful. It ruins young lives. It destroys families.
“Most regrettably, it is facilitated by big tech companies. I am sure you would agree, they should be applying time, effort, and financial resources to eradicate it...
“I worry about my seven grandchildren, their friends, and future generations. Mainly, because of the digital world they are, and will be, required to navigate. A digital world that simply didn’t exist for people of my generation. There were no smartphones, no overwhelming pressure from the millions of people in your phone living in your social media accounts, and no easy access to me, and my friends, from complete strangers who could be based anywhere in the world....
“The global pandemic of online child sexual abuse is an international issue. It is a crime that doesn't recognise cultural, social, or geographic barriers. It’s indiscriminate, and intolerably harmful. It ruins young lives. It destroys families.
“Most regrettably, it is facilitated by big tech companies. I am sure you would agree, they should be applying time, effort, and financial resources to eradicate it...
“I worry about my seven grandchildren, their friends, and future generations. Mainly, because of the digital world they are, and will be, required to navigate. A digital world that simply didn’t exist for people of my generation. There were no smartphones, no overwhelming pressure from the millions of people in your phone living in your social media accounts, and no easy access to me, and my friends, from complete strangers who could be based anywhere in the world....
“The reason I support PIER23 so passionately, is that it brings together those with influence, power and the responsibility to not only turn the tide, but bring about the changes necessary to address the trauma of abuse.
“‘Success’ for me today, is facilitating those able to create significant change. My personal quest is to see young people have the best possible start in life; that they too, thrive.
“In using this success to sponsor the conference, I’d like to think I will have played a part in facilitating the well connected, the more knowledgeable and the better placed, to make in-roads in a unified, global response to online harms, from providing a way of escape for those currently being abused to pre-advice for those who would otherwise be, and of course the technology, supported by policy we need to prevent unrestricted access to our children.”
“‘Success’ for me today, is facilitating those able to create significant change. My personal quest is to see young people have the best possible start in life; that they too, thrive.
“In using this success to sponsor the conference, I’d like to think I will have played a part in facilitating the well connected, the more knowledgeable and the better placed, to make in-roads in a unified, global response to online harms, from providing a way of escape for those currently being abused to pre-advice for those who would otherwise be, and of course the technology, supported by policy we need to prevent unrestricted access to our children.”
Graham also announced his support of further work with Simon Bailey, Chair of the Policing Institute for the Eastern Region to develop a nationwide therapeutic service for child victims of online sexual abuse. More details will be shared soon.
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