§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research he has analysed into which age group is the most targeted for internet grooming.[126939]
§ Paul Goggins[holding answer 8 September 2003]:We know of no research which would directly answer the question. Rachel O'Connell's published research ("Young Peoples' use of chatrooms; implications for policy strategies and programmes of education", 2002) explores the use of chatrooms by children of different ages but did not purport to identify the age group most at risk of grooming. The position is that a child of any age might be a target and so all should be cautious.