Adverts to warn of paedophiles on Net

A shock-tactic advertising campaign to warn children and parents of the dangers of paedophiles using the internet to ensnare youngsters is to be launched today.

The Home Office campaign, costing £1m,will feature television, radio and internet adverts to warnagainst paedophiles who use the internet to "groom" potential victims by logging on to online teenage chatrooms and pretending to be children. In a series of recent cases children and teenagers have been abused by adults they have meet via the internet, thinking they were the same age as themselves.

The month-long scheme offers a "good practice" guide for children to guard against internet sex offenders. It tells children that paedophiles are using the internet and warns them not to give contact details or go to see people they have met online without an adult.

The television advert features an adult assuming the role of a boy, talking about his hobbies, and how he enjoys football and going to the park.

Research shows that one in five children aged nine to 16 uses chatrooms and one in 10 chat users has met another chat user in person. Three in four children who go to face-to-face meetings are not accompanied by an adult.

The Home Office intends to introduce an offence of "grooming" a child through the internet for sexual purposes.