Agenda
Please see below the conference agenda. More information on speakers will be released in the coming weeks
Please note this is subject to change at any time by the organisers.
11:00 AM - 12:25 PM | Registration & Refreshments | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
12:25 PM - 12:30 PM | Welcome & Housekeeping ![]() ![]() Simon Bailey CBE, QPM, DL, MSt (Cantab), International Policing and Public Protection Research Institute Professor Sam Lundrigan, International Policing and Public Protection Research Institute | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
12:30 PM - 1:10 PM | Keynote Speech ![]() Jess Phillips, Minister for Safeguarding and VAWG | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1:10 PM - 1:15 PM | Keynote Speech ![]() Professor Roderick Watkins, Anglia Ruskin University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1:15 PM - 1:45 PM | UK Results of the Protect Children Global Survivor Survey ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Professor Sam Lundrigan, International Policing and Public Protection Research Institute Dr Lea Kamitz, International Policing and Public Protection Research Institute Eva Díaz Bethencourt, Protect Children Nina Vaaranen-Valkonen, Protect Children | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1:45 PM - 2:15 PM | ECHO VERIFY: Improving the detection and investigation of deepfaked and synthetic multimedia related to CSAM ![]() James Slessor, Accenture How emerging AI driven capabilities can help investigators more readily detect, identify and investigate deepfaked and synthetic child sexual assault material (CSAM), to support the triage, prioritisation and packaging of leads for law enforcement investigations, improving both victim support and perpetrator identification while determining next steps for the investigation. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2:15 PM - 2:45 PM | Case Study 1: Working in Partnership to Identify Victims ![]() ![]() ![]() Sarah Lambert, West Yorkshire Police Paul Burlace, West Yorkshire Combined Authority Lee Berry, Violence Reduction Partnership - West Yorkshire Combined Authority
This presentation will demonstrate the opportunities and benefits of involving wider partners, especially education settings, in identifying and safeguard victims of online facilitated abuse. *Please note: there will be no press/media access to this session. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2:45 PM - 3:15 PM | Case Study 2: “It was really normal that someone would just cut themselves on the call” The reality of the Com group: A law enforcement and psychotherapist perspectives what you should know when treating victims ![]() ![]() Nina Vaaranen-Valkonen, Protect Children Olly Clark, National Police Chiefs Council
This joint presentation by a Law Enforcement Agent and a Psychotherapist explores the scale and rapid rise of abuse of online violent groups, offender and victim profiles, and investigative challenges. It offers critical insights on handling 764 cases and trauma-informed approaches for supporting victims with empathy and care. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3:15 PM - 3:45 PM | Refreshments & Networking | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3:45 PM - 4:15 PM | Case Study 3: Hydrant Programme and Investigating a Police Officer Abuser ![]() ![]() ![]() Peter Hornby, Hydrant Programme Andrew Bartholomew, South Wales Police Clayton Ritchie, South Wales Police
The CSE Taskforce was established in 2023 with much of its work driven by ten years of experience and learning afforded by the Hydrant Programme's peer review and peer support process. This session will explore how the CSE Taskforce translated this learning and combined it with the knowledge of a number of experts in the field to develop the UK's first practice advice for on-line investigations. The session will demonstrate, through a case study; the investigation into former serving officer Lewis Edwards who sexually exploited over 400 children nationwide and around the globe online, how the practice advice is now used as a template to support forces by improving investigative strategy, processes and tactics, outlining the challenges the team faced throughout the investigation process, including strategies to manage the vast number of victims. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4:45 PM - 5:30 PM | Case Study 4: Dark Web and Gaming Platforms ![]() ![]() Dr William Allchorn, International Policing and Public Protection Research Institute, Anglia Ruskin University Danielle Williams, Resolver
Since the advent of the internet, extremist groups and Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) perpetrators have exploited digital platforms to recruit, communicate, and commit offenses, with a growing shift toward more enclosed spaces such as gaming-adjacent platforms (e.g., Discord, Twitch and Steam) and the Dark Web (e.g., forums like the now-dismantled Boystown). These actors use such environments to evade detection and build communities, as seen in high-profile cases like the Christchurch mosque shooter, who engaged with extremist ideologies via gaming and fringe platforms, and in operations like the FBI’s Operation Pacifier and the UK’s Operation Delilah, which exposed large-scale CSA networks online. Despite successful interventions—including Europol’s takedown of Boystown and Microsoft’s Project Artemis for CSAM detection—law enforcement and tech companies continue to face challenges posed by encryption, anonymity, and the speed at which harmful content can spread. This panel draws on research and investigatory case studies to examine how policing agencies, tech firms, and researchers can collaborate to counter online radicalisation and child exploitation, exploring the effectiveness of strategies such as AI-driven monitoring, undercover digital operations, and community-based prevention. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
5:30 PM - 6:15 PM | Case Study 5: Investigating Sweetdemons ![]() ![]() Ryan Parkins, Greater Manchester Police Carly Baines, Greater Manchester Police
Hugh Nelson, a 27-year-old man from Greater Manchester who was identified by a national team dedicated to tackling new and emerging online threats in relation to child sexual exploitation. Nelson was investigated for utilising Artificial Intelligence (AI) to create Child Sexual Abuse Material of his customer’s victims. This investigation was a UK-first and tested the boundaries of current legislation. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
6:15 PM - 9:00 PM | Networking Canapes &Drinks Reception |
8:15 AM - 8:55 AM | Registration & Refreshments | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
8:55 AM - 9:00 AM | Welcome & Housekeeping ![]() Simon Bailey CBE, QPM, DL, MSt (Cantab), International Policing and Public Protection Research Institute | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
9:00 AM - 9:15 AM | Keynote Speech ![]() Caroline Barnett, SAS Software LTD | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
9:15 AM - 10:00 AM | Enhancing Global Responses to CSEA: The Into the Light Index ![]() ![]() Lydia Davenport, Childlight Aya Tamura, Childlight
The Into the Light Index is the first global initiative providing critical data to improve child protection and prevent CSEA. Launched in 2024, it focuses on technology-facilitated CSEA, expanding in 2025 to include more sub-types. The SHIELD framework assesses law enforcement capabilities across six pillars, identifying gaps and strengthening responses. The presentation covers key findings and future plans. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
10:00 AM - 10:45 AM | Ofcom - The implementation of the online safety act ![]() Dr. Felipa Schmidt, Ofcom
The Online Safety Act, which Ofcom is responsible for implementing and enforcing, was passed in October 2023. Our work on ensuring offenders can’t share child sexual abuse content and children don’t face unsafe contact is one of our targets for immediate action as we progress in delivering the regulations. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
10:45 AM - 11:15 AM | Refreshments & Networking | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11:15 AM - 11:30 AM | Hear from Magnet Forensics ![]() Brandon Epstein, Magnet Forensics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11:30 AM - 12:15 PM | Talk About Awkward: The Think Before You Share SG-CSAM Prevention Campaign Development, Delivery and Evaluation ![]() ![]() ![]() Sarah Colley, Anglia Ruskin University Emma Hardy, Internet Watch Foundation Angela Muñoz Aroca, Internet Watch Foundation
This session, run by IPPPRI and the Internet Watch Foundation, will build on last year’s presentation on the experiences of children and young people, parents/carers and educators of so-called ‘self-generated’ child sexual abuse material (SG-CSAM). This led to the development of the creative Think Before You Share campaign, which ran for 6 weeks during summer 2024. Emma Hardy and Ángela Muñoz Aroca will describe the work undertaken to develop and deliver the campaign and highlight some of the assets and resources created. Sarah Colley will join them to report on the findings from the recent campaign evaluation. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
12:15 PM - 1:00 PM | Panel Discussion: Children and Young Persons Online Experience ![]() ![]() ![]() Rachel Haynes, The Lucy Faithfull Foundation Helen King, Praesidio Safeguarding Rangsima Deesawade, Evident
Shore pilot evaluation: A review of the implementation of the Shore website, anonymous chat and email service for young people In June 2023, the Lucy Faithfull Foundation launched Shore, a unique online resource for teenagers worried about their own or someone else’s sexual thoughts, feelings or behaviour. This presentation will share the key insights from an exploratory, mixed-methods study, reviewing the strengths and limitations of the first year of Shore’s delivery.
Elevating young people's voices for change This presentation will explain why our work to elevate child and youth voices within research is so important and all the different ways integrating children’s voices challenges our fundamental understanding of how we conceive of and understand problems in the technical space. To explore this, we will draw on some examples of how our research has fundamentally challenged prior assumptions.
The ’Leaked’ Project - Understanding and addressing self-generated sexual content involving young people in Thailand The 'Leaked' Project takes an innovative approach to understanding self-generated sexual content among children in Thailand. The project leverages quantitative insights from surveys of 2,000 children. Preliminary survey findings will be shared in this presentation focusing on the nuanced realities facing children as they negotiate consent, navigate cultural norms, and understand technology's role in modern relationships. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM | Lunch & Networking | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2:00 PM - 2:45 PM | Workshop 1: Children's Lived Experiences: Everyone's Invited ![]() Soma Sara, Everyone's Invited
This workshop will explore the widespread impact of rape culture on young people. Soma will highlight how harmful attitudes and behaviours shape children’s experiences, as young as primary school age. The importance of taking a whole-school, societal approach to prevention, engaging both adults and children in digital literacy will be discussed. | Workshop 2: Hydrant Programme - Data ![]() Angie Jones, Hydrant Programme
This series of workshops will explore how the CSE Taskforce has developed a number of approaches to improve the national policing and partner response to group-based offending. • Data - how the use of police crime data is being used to develop policy, strategy and tactics in the response to the threat of group based child sexual abuse and exploitation. | Workshop 3: Risky pornography use of young adult men in The Netherlands ![]() Kelly van den Heuvel, Stop it Now, Offlimits This presentation shares the results of a new ongoing research project on the pornography habits of young adult men and how often they search for violent or illegal material, including CSAM. It will also be discussed how this knowledge can be used for the development of preventative interventions. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3:00 PM - 3:45 PM | Workshop 1: Supporting Digital Front Line Responders ![]() ![]() Dr Katy Ring, WeProtect Global Alliance Bethany Jennings, WeProtect Global Alliance
WPGA presents research on the health and wellbeing of frontline responders to online child sexual abuse and exploitation. In-depth interviews were conducted with 26 professionals from 13 countries. The research takes a “whole system” view across different types of organization and offers practical recommendations for employers of digital frontline responders. | Workshop 2: Hydrant Programme - Research ![]() ![]() Dr Kim Bond, NAPAC Olivia Peri, NAPAC
This series of workshops will explore how the CSE Taskforce has developed a number of approaches to improve the national policing and partner response to group-based offending. • Research - an outline of how effective collaboration and extensive academic research can influence systemic change. This session will be led by the National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC) a leading partner in the CSE Taskforce. | Workshop 3: Investigating Online Grooming Risks ![]() Dr Somaya Alwejdani, Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) - PlayStation
Exploring Online Grooming Opportunities on an Online Social Network: A mixed-method Approach Children under 18 face growing risks from online predators, but how does this happen? This presentation uncovers real-world dangers by auditing children's profiles, testing threats with fictitious accounts, and interviewing UK investigators. It reveals how predators exploit vulnerabilities, evaluates online safety measures, and highlights urgent gaps and solutions to protect minors. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3:45 PM - 4:15 PM | Networking & Refreshments | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4:15 PM - 5:00 PM | Workshop 1: Fostering Trauma Informed Wellbeing for helping Professionals ![]() Le'Siran Edwards, Social Work Coaching Hub
In this session, you’ll: - Understand how trauma shows up in the workplace and its impact - Learn to spot and respond to signs of trauma - Create a personalised trauma-informed self-care plan — because your well-being matters too! | Workshop 2: Hydrant Programme - Partnership ![]() ![]() Phil Ashford, Hydrant Programme Tracey Watkinson, Hydrant Programme
This series of workshops will explore how the CSE Taskforce has developed a number of approaches to improve the national policing and partner response to group-based offending. • Partnership - a key ingredient of a successful response to exploitation is an effective partnership approach. Learn more about Operation Makesafe, a flagship disruption tool that was re-launched in 2024 and our ambition for 2025 and beyond. | Workshop 3: CSAM warning messages at scale. Evidence & Action ![]() Dr Joel Scanlan, University of Tasmania
Warning messages as a situational crime prevention strategy for child sexual abuse material online have been growing in their use in the last decade. This presentation will explore the growing evidence base for their efficacy and the efforts to make them “normal business” for tech providers. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
7:00 PM - 7:30 PM | Drinks Reception | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
7:30 PM - 9:00 PM | Gala Dinner | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
9:00 PM - 9:45 PM | Excellence in Online Protection Awards Ceremony |
8:15 AM - 8:55 AM | Registration & Refreshments | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
8:55 AM - 9:00 AM | Welcome & Housekeeping ![]() Simon Bailey CBE, QPM, DL, MSt (Cantab), International Policing and Public Protection Research Institute | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
9:00 AM - 9:45 AM | The Anatomy of the Korean Deepfake Crisis and its implications for the UK ![]() Adam Groves, Nominet
Korea’s Deepfake Crisis saw over 500 schools and universities targeted in an orchestrated campaign of sexual violence. Drawing on interviews with some of the organisations at the forefront of the country's response, this session will examine what happened and what lessons may exist for the UK. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
9:45 AM - 10:30 AM | The Dark Side of the Creator Economy ![]() Sean Branagan, The Newhouse School at Syracuse University
Among all the positives and opportunities of the emerging Creator Economy, there will be negative consequences from GenAI, Web3, NeRFs, Gausian Splat, virtualization and other technologies. This time, we can't hide behind the phrase "unintended consequences." Now we know. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM | “I feel so alone; I can't believe we have to go through this on our own" ![]() ![]() ![]() Nina Vaaranen-Valkonen, Protect Children Katariina Leivo, Protect Children Jo Procter, Embrace
The power of You Are Enough™-peer support groups for parents whose children have fallen victims to sexual abuse. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11:30 AM - 12:00 PM | Conference Close & Forward Look ![]() ![]() Simon Bailey CBE, QPM, DL, MSt (Cantab), International Policing and Public Protection Research Institute Professor Sam Lundrigan, International Policing and Public Protection Research Institute |