Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre

Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) is a department of the Serious Organised Crime Agency tasked with bringing online child sex offenders, including those involved in the production, distribution and viewing of child abuse material, to UK courts. CEOP was incorporated into the National Crime Agency in 2013. As of October 2014 it has 141 officers[1].

Budget

The core budget for CEOP comes from the Home Office, but the total budget also includes donations of cash and resources from other partners such as Microsoft and BAE Systems Detica. (The sources and individual amounts of additional funding are not included in the annual reviews.)

In June 2013 the BBC reported that Home Office funding for CEOP was cut 10% to £6.062m.[2]

CEOP annual reviews and plans show the "Grant in Aid" budget reducing at £6.416m (2009/10), £6.44m (2010/11), £6.38m (2011/12), £6.062 (2012/13). However the GIA for 2013/14 shows an increase to £6.45m (2013/14).

Transparency

CEOP is covered by SOCA's Section 23 exemption to the Freedom of Information Act 2000, however its website states

"Nevertheless it is the policy of CEOP to be as open and transparent in our dealings with the public where possible and each request for information will be considered on a case by case basis."[3]

Search blacklist

In July 2013, Prime Minister David Cameron MP called on major search engines to block any search requests that include keywords from a list compiled by CEOP.[4]

Domain suspensions

CEOP was named as an agency likely to report domains for suspension to Nominet when they announced their formalised policy.[5] However, in Nominet’s reporting it is unclear if CEOP requests are included in the NCA figures.

Links

Reports

References

  1. ↑ Hansard, 2014-10-29
  2. ↑ The battle over who should police the web, BBC News, 2013-06-17
  3. ↑ https://www.ceop.police.uk/Terms-and-conditions/
  4. ↑ Cameron tells web companies to block child sexual abuse searches, Guardian, 2013-07-21
  5. ↑ Nominet formalises approach to tackling criminal activity on .uk domains Nominet.uk blog, 3 April 2014
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