Irish Internet Hotline provides a confidential service for reporting suspected illegal or harmful content online. Our vision statement is “A safer internet for everyone, especially children”. Our aim is to create a safe environment where people, especially children, can use the internet freely without the risk of harm. We recognise that the welfare of the child is paramount, and we fully subscribe to the principles outlined in the Irish national guidelines as set out in the Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children (2017). Irish Internet Hotline is not obligated to have a child safeguarding statement under the Children’s First Act 2015. However, the nature of our service and its role in protecting children online mean that there is the need to ensure that any child who does avail of the service is properly safeguarded. The statement sets out the principles and procedures to be observed to ensure, as far as practicable, that a child availing of our service is safe from harm. This statement is informed by a risk assessment which identifies the areas of risk and the measures in place to manage those risks.
We have carried out an assessment of any potential for harm to a child, while availing of the Hotline service. Under the Children First Act 2015, the definition of harm in relation to a child is: “(a) assault, ill treatment or neglect of the child in a manner that seriously affects or is likely to seriously affect the child’s health, development or welfare, or (b) sexual abuse of the child.” As the nature of the service does not allow for children to by physically onsite it means that there is minor risk to children for harm under this definition, however given the nature of the service where children could potentially be reporting their own images of child sexual abuse, intimate images or are otherwise vulnerable, there is a need to ensure that they are protected from general harms that this could lend to, as well that any safety concern is addressed. Below is a table of identified risks and procedures that address them.
Risk of harm to a child from visitors to the office:
The Irish Internet Hotline implements strict access control measures to limit the entry of unauthorised individuals to the office premises. Visitors are required to sign in and be accompanied by authorised staff members during their visit.
In addition to the procedures listed in the aforementioned risk assessment, the following legislation, policies, procedures, and codes support and inform Irish Internet Hotline’s safeguarding of children who use the service.
Irish Internet Hotline is dedicated to implementing this statement and its associated child safeguarding policies and procedures to ensure the safety of children using our service. The statement will be reviewed every two years or sooner in case of significant changes. It is provided to all new staff during induction, accessible to staff on the office SharePoint, and published on Irish Internet Hotline website www.hotline.ie.
For queries in relation to this Child Safeguarding Statement, please contact general.enquiries@hotline.ie
