. On this occasion, we
were looking for general reaction rather than befriending a specific
target - but even we were surprised at the response that followed.In
a short time period, our "girl" (in reality a male detective)
was approached by 66 men. Our arrangement with the BBC was for her to
openly declare her age - 14 years old and a Year 10 student - at which
only half of the men who had approached her backed down, the others
variously maintaining conversation, some building her trust. Some of the
contact's approaches were sexually explicit, others more subtle.
|
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One
man, who was aware that our "girl" was 14 years old, pressed
to meet her during internet conversations. He repeatedly asked for her
mobile phone number, which was eventually exchanged for his. An exchange
of text messages began and eventually, with one of our female
investigators stepping in to be our girl's "voice", mobile
phone calls. While
seeming to be open, the man gave little information about himself,
frequently telling the girl not to keep a record of their internet
conversations and to delete his text messages.
|
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| He was confident online,
but withdrawn on the telephone, however he still pressed to meet her,
specifying that she should be on her own and tell no-one where she was
going. "She" insisted that she should bring a "friend",
to which he reluctantly agreed - although encouraging her to get rid of
her friend at the first opportunity and before she and he physically
met. By
this time we had identified the man and had a photograph which we
believed accurate. |
 |
| Much planning went into covering the meeting which
had by now been arranged. One female investigator acted as the girl,
with a colleague playing her "friend", both wearing school
uniform as the scenario that had been established was that they would be
returning from an extra-curricular school activity.Elaborate security
was put in place as the girls had to be watched for the whole of a train
journey in addition to the meeting, always ready to act should there be
any threat or danger. BBC cameras were present from beginning to end |
 |
| Arriving
at the rendezvous by train, the girls, still dressed in their school
uniform, headed for the footbridge where she was to meet him. Security
was already in place on both sides of the bridge and we knew he had
arrived, having sited himself and his motorbike on the far side of the
bridge to enable a getaway (much play had been made by him of taking her
for a ride on his bike during the chatroom conversations). |
 |
| The girls
played in view, then "friend" departed, leaving our undercover
investigator seemingly alone (although not, at any time, more than a few
seconds from any security people). When
he could see the coast was clear, he came on to the bridge where our
girl was waiting for him, occasionally skipping. He introduced himself.
She acted nervous, shy - her persona on the net was one of a lonely
girl, no father, few friends, moved to a new town, and the man had
played on this in conversations to gain her trust. |
 |
| During ten minutes
conversation he was constantly trying to move her towards his parked
motorbike on the opposite side to where her home was located. He was, of
course, unaware of being filmed, and that our investigator was wired.
At
a given signal, a BBC correspondent and cameraman approached the man from behind while our
undercover girl kept him in conversation. He was interviewed on camera,
at first trying to push the camera away, then hesitantly answering the
interviewer's questions. His answer to one of the questions again
confirmed his full awareness of the girl's supposed age. |
 |
| Meanwhile, a
somewhat shaken "14 year old" had been spirited away to safety. He
left, on his motorbike, followed by our own motorbike outrider who was
there to ensure the man was safe - we have a duty of care, regardless of
the individual. Our rider only had a short journey as the man was pulled
over by a waiting police car half a mile away. |
 |
| With the BBC running a
further "piece to camera" as the man was put into the back of
a police car a massive sense of relief was evident in our team, who
adjourned to our base hotel for a long debrief.
See/hear
this story. We
are frequently involved in this kind of operation, however this time it
was rewarding to see our efforts made public as a major news item and referred to by Baronesss Thornton in the House of Lords |
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| For
further examples, do look at some of the other pages on this site
including a transcript
of online conversation, information on
chatroom dangers, on
chatrooms and
news reporting of the conviction
of an Internet
Predator. If you have concerns about people your children have
come into contact with, or believe you may have this sort of problem
within your company, call us on 01483 200999 |
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