About
The Excellence in Global Online Protection Awards, was launched in 2024 to recognise and celebrate the outstanding contribution of individuals and organisations who are responding to the global epidemic of online child abuse. Extraordinary and innovative work is underway across the globe to tackle this harmful crime, in which offenders are targeting children through rapidly advancing technology. These awards are dedicated to recognising the outstanding contribution individuals and organisations are making in this space.
Established by Simon Bailey CBE, QPM, DL, MSt (Cantab), former Chief Constable of Norfolk Police, former National Policing Lead for Child Protection and leading expert in tackling online harms, the awards recognise and celebrate the excellent work underway in this field. Winners will be announced at the annual conference of the International Policing and Public Protection Institute (IPPPRI25) hosted at the Renaissance Hotel, Heathrow, on Tuesday 20th May 2025.
Why?
There is a global pandemic of online child sexual abuse. The problem is getting worse year on year, and the number of children subjected to online child sexual abuse is increasing at an exponential rate. More children than ever are being targeted via online platforms including social media.
Excellence in Global Online Protection Awards Founder Simon Bailey explains:
“I have spent years working in this area, and have watched as the scale and threat of this crime continues to grow. Every year I see more and more children becoming victims and the impact it has on their lives.
There are some children who will never fully recover from the trauma of the abuse they have suffered. I have created these awards to recognise and celebrate the achievements of individuals and organisations who every day are doing their very best to protect children from harm.
These are dedicated individuals and organisations, without whom the problem would be even worse, and they deserve to be recognised, their achievements celebrated and publicly acknowledged.
This will be the first global award ceremony of its kind and I am looking forward to hearing more about the extraordinary work that is being done to keep children safe online. If you know of a person or an organisation who are making a real difference please nominate them and help us celebrate their efforts.“
The Judging Panel
Jahine Davis
Jahnine is the Co-founder and director of Listen Up: An organisation established to amplify the voices and experiences of racialised children. She is a care-experienced professional who started her career in children’s rights and participation and has over 20 years practice experience working in both charity and statutory sectors. Jahnine is the UK’s foremost researcher and thought leader in adultification bias in child protection and safeguarding. A specialist in the safeguarding of Black children, Jahnine’s PhD research explores safeguarding responses to Black children when harm is outside of the home. Jahnine was appointed to the Child Safeguarding Review Panel November 2021 for a period of 4 years, she is also the appointed safeguarding lead for the BBC's independent review into Tim Westwood.
“I am honoured to be on the judging panel - acknowledging the commitment and dedication of individuals and organisations working to safeguard and protect the most vulnerable children and young people.“
Asha Odedra MBE
Asha is an experienced civil servant having worked in central government departments for 16 years, specialising in the criminal justice response to violence against women and girls. Asha also supported the work of the national, and independent, Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel as joint head of their secretariat team. Asha was awarded an MBE in 2016 for services to law and order.
“I am honoured to be asked again to be on the judging panel for the Excellence in Global Online Protection Awards 2025. Last year, we were blown away by the submissions we received detailing important, impactful and innovative contributions to protect children and young people from online harms. It was also abundantly clear that so many people working on this issue did so with dedication, care and compassion. I am therefore looking forward to this year’s submission, and I am ready to be inspired all over again!
If you know of a person, project or organisation which deserves recognition then please consider nominating them for an award to celebrate the important work underway.“
Ian Critchley QPM
Ian has 32 years' policing experience working in Lancashire, and 7 years in Merseyside, the last 2 of which he was deputy chief constable. Ian was head of public protection in Lancashire for four years and sat as an executive member on three safeguarding boards. He has extensive command experience, leading investigations into homicide, child sexual abuse and significant critical firearms incidents in Merseyside. He was the national policing lead for child protection for the last three years, and after retiring as a police officer, continued in the role as national lead . This included chairing the National Pursue Online Board with the NCA and partners, and working with the Hyrdant Programme in tackling group-based abused and the IICSA response, before handing the role on to DCC Becky Riggs. For the last year, Ian has been the strategic implementation lead for the National Centre for Violence against Women and Girls and Public Protection (NCVPP), which will commence on 1st April, working with NPCC, The College of Policing, Home Office and stakeholders to enhance the policing approach to this critical area. He has given evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee, IICSA and a number of parliamentary inquiries in relation to child protection and safeguarding. He is also a member of the National Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel.
“I am delighted to be part of the judging panel for these important inagaural awards – policing focuses increasing capabilities to target offenders who commit some of the most abhorrent offences imaginable , and support victims from the lifetime of harm and hurt online abuse and exploitation causes. However it is an increasing necessity to reward and recognize those who through their dedication , innovation , care and compassion invest their time in protecting and preventing these offences and therefore reducing the significant harm caused – I am really looking forward to viewing the submissions and recognizing this outstanding and crucial work that is and can continue to make a huge difference for the safety of children and young people.“