Child Exploitation Conference Success

Fiona Raitt and Linda Walker, pictured with some of the speakers and delegates

The School of Law, together with the School of Education, Social Work and Community Education, hosted a very successful multi-disciplinary conference on 1 September 2011. Entitled 'Child Exploitation: Legal Responses to New Challenges in Child Protection', it involved leading experts from a wide range of disciplines and sectors such as child care and protection professionals and academics as well as other professionals working in related fields. Child exploitation is a phenomenon with no boundaries and, increasingly, it has a global presence through the internet and in underground activities in all countries, including Scotland.

Organised by Fiona Raitt and Linda Walker, the conference discussed the latest research, developments and challenges in the field. The speakers' expertise in law, internet pornography policing, social work and forensic identification provided the delegates with knowledge of cutting edge research and practice. Chaired by Peter Wilson, former Chief Constable of Fife Police, the conference aimed to encourage cross-disciplinary networking and with comments such as "Very enjoyable and informative. Good to hear and debate in a multi-agency setting" and "I have really enjoyed today's event. One of the very few courses I have attended where I wanted to stay to the end! Thank you!", this certainly seems to have been achieved.

Speakers' presentations:

• Janys Scott QC, Faculty of Advocates
  (Children and Human Rights)
  Get Presentation
  
  
• Prof Kenneth Norrie, University of Strathclyde
  (New Children's Hearings System)
  Get Presentation
  
  
• D.C. Chris Money, CEOP
  (Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre)
  Get Presentation
  
  
• Dr Xanthe Mallet, University of Dundee
  (Forensic Identification of Child Abuse Perpetrators)
  Get Presentation
  
  
• Prof Peter McEleavy, University of Dundee
  (Child Protection - International Issues)
  Get Presentation
  
  
• Derek Gray, Barnardo's Scotland
  (Cutting Children Free from Sexual Exploitation)
  Get Presentation

Both Fiona and Linda (pictured above with some of the speakers and delegates) are very grateful to the excellent organisational advice and support of Margaret Teven (CASS Office) and Donna Hendry (Law School Office), as well as very welcome sponsorship and support from the Scottish Institute for Policing Research (SIPR).

Posted: 13 October 2011