I don't think it would come as a surprise if I told you there was a distinct lack of that warm and fuzzy feeling when I heard this.
Could it be because there appears to be much controversy surrounding ex RUC man Jim Gamble?
Could it be because Jim Gamble is actively trying to legitimise the McCann's claim that Madeleine was abducted from apartment 5A?
Could it be because Jim Gamble is actively trying to legitimise the McCanns claim that Madeleine was abducted from apartment 5A in spite of there being no new evidence to support that an abduction had actually taken place, or that indeed there is any evidence at all to support an abduction?
Could it be because Jim Gamble is actively trying to legitimise the McCanns claim that Madeleine was abducted from apartment 5A by inviting an uncleared suspect in a major crime to be a guest speaker at the CEOP.
Could it be because the first thought that crossed my mind was, who will monitor the CEOP and to whom will the CEOP be accountable.
There could be many reasons that I don't have that warm and fuzzy feeling that this situation is about to come to pass, and not least those I have mentioned, but no matter how many other reasons there may be for my disquiet, it is above all things, the impermeable stink that emanates from this Gamble - McCann association that really gets up my nose.
CEOP to become independent
Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) is to be made an non-departmental public body, a junior Home Office Minister announced this week. Non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) are more commonly known as “quangos”.The significance of the announcement is that it will give greater independence to CEOP to set its own strategic goals and priorities. CEOP is currently accountable to the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA); while CEOP enjoys operational independence, SOCA oversees its annual plan, budget etc. NDPBs generally have full independence: their purpose and powers is set out in the statute that creates them and within that framework they have almost complete strategic freedom.
Jim Gamble, the senior police officer who is the Chief Executive of CEOP, has a record of being outspoken in his criticisms of the Internet industry, particularly social networking sites, and arguing that CEOP should not have to pay costs to ISPs, unlike the regular police. Heading an independent quango, rather than answering to a policing agency, he will have even greater freedom to campaign to set limits on industry self-regulation. source Lynx Public Affairs
