|
Ceop has made representations to the government over the
decision |
The chief executive of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection
Centre (Ceop) has resigned in a row over its future, the BBC has learned
The Home Office confirmed the home secretary had accepted
Jim Gamble's
resignation letter.
MrGamble did not believe the decision to assimilate Ceop into the
National Crime Agency was in the best interests of children and young
people.
The merger proposal was outlined by
Theresa May in July.
In
a statement Ceop said: "The Child Exploitation and Online Protection
Centre does not feel that it is in the best interests of children and
young people for Ceop to be assimilated into the National Crime Agency,
as was announced a short while ago.
"This direction of travel does not seem to have changed and Ceop's CEO,
Jim Gamble, has therefore today offered his resignation to the home
secretary with a four month notice period."
Mrs May said: "As chief executive Jim Gamble has done a great job at
Ceop and made a huge contribution to protecting children. I wish him all
the best for the future and arrangements for his successor will be
outlined in due course
"The government recognises the importance of child protection and wants
to build upon the work of Ceop, but does not necessarily feel this is
best done by creating a new quango."
It
is understood that Ceop has made representations to the government since
the announcement that its work was to become part of the proposed
National Crime Agency.
'Badly missed'
Ceop is currently affiliated to the Serious Organised Crime Agency
(Soca).
It
is believed that Mr Gamble was keen on gaining more independence for the
agency rather than allowing it to become part of a greater National
Crime Agency.
It
felt it would lose its identity and priorities given to its work would
be devalued.
Claude Knights, direrctor of anti-bullying charity Kidscape said Ceop
had proven its worth and the news was concerning.
"It is so sudden as well and to have a person with as much experience as
Jim Gamble being taken away from the horizon, really at such speed is a
worry, because he is a leader in this field," she said.
Shadow home secretary Alan Johnson said Mr Gamble was a passionate
advocate for effective measures to protect children from threatening
people on the internet.
"Under his leadership the Child Exploitation and Online Protection
Centre (Ceop) was gaining an international reputation for its tremendous
work. Labour would have given Ceop the operational freedom it needed to
become even more effective, " he said.
"The government's plans will harm child safety networks. Their lack of
consultation has led to the resignation of Mr Gamble who is highly
respected within and outside of the organisation he served so well. His
expertise will be badly missed."
Ceop was set up in 2006 with the aim of finding and convicting online
paedophiles.
Mr
Gamble was head of Northern Ireland's anti-terrorist unit before joining
the agency and was one of five senior police figures shortlisted to
replace Sir Hugh Orde after he stepped down as chief constable of the
Police Service of Northern Ireland.
As
Ceop chief executive Mr Gamble led calls for Facebook to set up a "panic
button" to give reassurance for young users. The application has been
downloaded tens of thousands of times since its launch in July. |