Q&A with Hotline Team Leader
For our Q&A 'Spotlight' in our October 2005 e-newsletter we asked IWF Hotline Team Leader what a typical day in the eyes of the hotline involves and how the hotline has changed over the years. We hope this feature will give you an insight into how the IWF Hotline operates.
The IWF's Hotline Team Leader is responsible for the management, training and welfare of the hotline team. The day to day responsibilities include reviewing incoming reports, allocating them to the team and managing the day to day operations of the hotline.
As a team member, the Team Leader also process reports and from the work, collate all the information gained from their investigations and produce statistics and trends highlighting the movement and techniques employed by those involved in viewing and distributing child abuse material.
The Team Leader liaises closely with UK police, working with and providing support to some of the specialist units combating child abuse material on the Internet and where necessary supplies written statements and attend court. The Team Leader is also recognised by the Crown Prosecution Service as an expert witness in relation to child abuse images and their distribution on the Internet.
What does a typical day in the eyes of the hotline involve?
My day usually starts quite early, firstly I will review all reports which have come in over night and allocate them to the team for investigation. I will then brief the Operations Manager of any points of interest. The team work a staggered day in order to have the office manned between 08.00 – 17.00 The team deal with the incoming reports first before investigating the leads cultivated from this and other intelligence. Each day is different with differing queries in relation to the distribution of Child Abuse Images on the internet from our members, police and other authorities.
Has the hotline changed since you have worked there?
The hotline is now unrecognisable to when I first joined, as those who share or trade in this material have developed more and more complex techniques in an effort to hide or mask their location. The hotline has developed better investigative methods with the assistance of improved software to locate and trace its origin and inform law enforcement agencies not only UK but worldwide.
How have the last 6 months been, with respect to the increased amount of reports and new hotline team members?
In January 2005 we recruited 3 new members of staff to the hotline. These new members have brought many different skills which have enabled the team to develop into a highly efficient investigative unit. The hotline is now able to fully develop the information supplied by the public and therefore locate and notify law enforcement. These are exciting times within the hotline.
What is done to make sure the health and welfare of the hotline staff is maintained?
The health and welfare of the team are of utmost importance. Each analyst has a confidential counselling session with a counsellor every 3 months and more is available if required. Due to the nature of the team’s work the office is in a secure area of the building therefore the team do not have such a close contact with their colleagues in other areas of the IWF. To help over come this the IWF hold quarterly ‘away days’ when all members of staff enjoy a team building day outside the office environment. The IWF also ensures that all the hotline team members comfort needs are addressed, so as to reduce stress in what is already a stressful job.
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Page Created: Wed, October 5th, 2005
Page Modified: Fri, February 10th, 2006
