November 29, 2024 - 242 views
Professionals and experts from across North Wales have met at Conwy Business Centre in Llandudno Junction for a conference addressing online harms.
The annual All for One event, now in its third year, was hosted by North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), Andy Dunbobbin.
This year's conference focussed on strengthening the multiagency response to online harms across North Wales, with particular emphasis on prevention strategies, protective measures, and victim support services. The event provided a platform for evaluating current work and exploring approaches to enhance online safety throughout the region.
Online harms encompass a wide range of malicious activities conducted through digital platforms, including cyberbullying, fraud, sexual exploitation, hate crimes, and fraud scams.
These threats can have devastating emotional, psychological, and financial impacts on victims of all ages, making it crucial for organisations to work together to combat these challenges effectively.
The gathering brought together a diverse audience of professionals, including regulatory experts, academics, support service providers and emergency service personnel.
Following an opening address and welcome from Stephen Hughes, Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner Chief Executive Officer and PCC Andy Dunbobbin, attendees heard a presentation from Rhiannon-Faye McDonald, Head of Advocacy at Marie Collins Foundation, who shared insights into the impact and recovery journey of technology-assisted child sexual abuse victims and told attendees of her own journey as a victim of online sexual exploitation.
The conference featured further presentations covering various aspects of online safety, including from Sarah Blight, Head of OS Strategic Partnerships and Security at Ofcom's Online Safety Group, detailed the implementation and implications of the Online Safety Act.
This is a new set of laws that protects children and adults online and puts a range of new duties on social media companies and search services, making them more responsible for their users’ safety on their platforms.
The Act will give providers new duties to implement systems and processes to reduce risks their services are used for illegal activity, and to take down illegal content when it does appear. The contribution and insights from Ofcom, as the national regulator in this area of work, were appreciated by the audience in North Wales.
North Wales Police Constable Sean Jooste from the Digital Forensics Unit shared vital insights into forensic approaches to countering online harms, while Temporary Detective Chief Inspector Dafydd Curry outlined North Wales Police's strategies for identifying and addressing digital threats.
Cardiff University PhD Researcher Jodie Luker presented findings on the impact of online hate, while Andrea Cooper and Sion Wyn Evans from the Office of the Older People's Commissioner for Wales discussed the vulnerabilities of older adults to online scams.
A closing segment of the event featured a keynote video documenting a local elderly person's experience as a victim of online fraud through impersonation. Representatives from Victim Support based at the Victim Help Centre in St. Asaph provided context and facilitated a group discussion exploring the themes and lessons from the victim's experience.
Andy Dunbobbin, Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales commented: "The great success of this year's All for One conference demonstrates our region's commitment to tackling issues such as online harms and advocating for victims head-on.
"I appreciate and support the innovative approaches being developed across different sectors to protect our communities. By bringing together expertise from different organisations and professionals from across the board in North Wales, we're building a more robust response to online threats.
"The stories shared today remind us why this work is so vital and I'm particularly encouraged by the progress we're making in supporting our most vulnerable residents."
Sioned Jacobsen, Victim Support Senior Operations Manager for Wales, said: “We are proud to have taken part in All for One and shared a powerful message that demonstrates the devastating impact of online fraud, particularly on older individuals here in North Wales.
"The video we presented demonstrates how quickly lives can be turned upside down by sophisticated scams, but also highlights our commitment to helping victims rebuild their confidence and find their feet again. By supporting those who have experienced online fraud, we aim to restore their personal resilience.”
To find out more about the support available to victims of online harms and fraud, visit the website of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner: www.northwales-pcc.gov.uk/commissioned-services
