COUNCIL chiefs are set to ban access to internet chatrooms on public computers, as fears grow that the service could expose children to risk.
The executive of Blaenau Gwent county borough council will today consider removing access to chatrooms after receiving complaints they were being inappropriately used by teenagers in libraries.
It comes just weeks after the alleged abduction of teenager Tammy Lane from Brynmawr. She went missing for more than a week after going to meet someone she first contacted over the internet. She eventually returned home of her own accord.
Tajinder Pami, 30, of Ravenhurst Street, Highgate, Birmingham, has been charged with unlawfully detaining the 15-year-old and removing her from her parents. He denies the charge.
If councillors agree, IT filtering software will be installed to exclude chatrooms.
However, this measure is not foolproof, according to John Parsons, the council's director of community services.
His report said: "Members should note that the software cannot guarantee stopping access to all chatroom sites as it is dependant on these sites being included in the subscription updates from the filtering company." All library users in Blaenau Gwent county borough are already handed a leaflet on the acceptable use of the internet which warns of any possible dangers with the service.
Mr Parsons added: "The removal of chatroom facilities is a responsible development designed to further protect the county borough's library users, and is an extension to the existing leisure services division's child protection policy."
Gary Probert, senior civilian crime investigator with the Gwent police cyber-crime unit, said: "The internet is probably the greatest technological breakthrough of the 20th century but we have to make sure that our children are safe when using it.
"We tell our children from an early age not to talk to strangers and then they go on computers and do exactly that."
Councillor leader and Brynmawr councillor John Hopkins said: "The issue to withdraw chatrooms has no bearing with what has happened recently. "It is a coincidence but the report was being prepared months ago and we are being pro-active in protecting all members of the community from young children through to adults."
He added: "We are providing educational facilities for children in our libraries and chatting is not educational."
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