Inside Access: Jess Negus

This month at BB we chat to a girl who loves hanging out with her friends, going shopping, to the movies and who adores her mobile phone… Sound ordinary?

At just 18, Jess Negus is also a Youth Advisor for the Australian Federal Police, helping them to combat the growing epidemic of child sex offenders online. Kate from BB HQ was lucky enough to speak with Jess about her outstanding position in the AFP, her passions and life in general.

How did you become a youth advisor?

As part of the creation of the AFP's High Tech Crime Operations, there was a need to bridge the gap between those of the previous generation and those of today. Due to this the position of a youth advisor was created. I knew it was something I would love to get involved in so I applied, was interviewed and thankfully appointed to the job.

Was the exposure and exploitation of children over the internet something you were already familiar with?

I knew a little bit about before I joined but not to the extent that I do now!

Jess, you sit in the room with the agent while he/she is talking to a potential predator. Do you find it daunting?

It's fine! I just sit there and keep a close eye on the language used by the agent in conversations ensdure that it reflects what a young person would say. I'll often tell the agent what the little acronyms, like lol and brb etc, mean and also advise them on topics to talk about. My main focus is to help the agent when they are stuck to maintain a cover, if you like, that of a young girl that the offender is talking to. Basically just providing advice on some of the language used.

What is your biggest fear when it comes to the job that you have?

It scares me when I think about the amount of teens and young children that are getting affected by all of this. I really HATE it! Just the fact that there are sex offenders who are very skilled in what they do and go online to persuade and abuse young people. They know how to influence their subjects and emotionally blackmail them.

It starts off with conversation and then they try to meet with them. They say things like "Let's meet at the park and play soccer", and then from that point you never know what happens.

Are sex offenders easy to identify, from your experiences?

The sex offenders are pretty well hidden. They obviously aren't going to put themselves out there for people to identify them.

People have just got to know, be aware of the risks. DON'T put your real details on the internet, and limit the amount of personal information entered on the internet. Use a nickname or faint details rather than your real ones. Just remember you should only ever add people you know- particularly in the real world, so people who you know through school and who you may hang-out with!

You helped direct a youth forum for youths aged 11-16 in Canberra, where you discussed online and internet communications. That's a major responsibility!

Yes it was, but I had so much fun! We found out a lot of interesting things to help us on cases, including what 11-16 year olds find cool on the internet and what they think isn't. They gave us direction on how we should educate teens as well as tips on how police can be better at their jobs in investigating these sorts of matters.

I help them create awarness of the issues and what people can do to protect themselves. That is our main priority. We also got so many thank you emails from the teens and their parents which is rewarding in itself.

Out of that twenty 11-16 year old students we chose ten to go with us to London next month to participate in the International Youth advisory Congress or IYAC as it. Organised by CEOP, which is the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre, a law enforcement organization in the UK, the congress will be the first of its kind. IYAC will consist of about 150 youths who will gather in London to discuss all the issues relating to online safety. With a combined effort, we will come up with ideas and a create a charter which will be put forward to the UN.

This event is an example of what can be done globally, in a short period of time, to address the issue of internet safety and security. I think we will come up with many strategies to address the best way to tackle some of these issues.

What are your plans for your bright future?

I hope to go to University in a couple of years to study either psychology or sociology.

I have always wanted to be either a Federal Agent or a Community Police Officer, so hopefully I will find my place in either one of those areas.

What do you believe it takes in a person to do the job that you do?

• Involvement and awareness of what is going on in the online and offline world
• Ability to communicate with all generations on a day to day basis
• Be able to speak publicly in front of a wide variety of audiences
• Be open to new ideas and prepared to take a few risks along the way

What advice would you give to the BB members about online participation?

Protect your online reputation. Know what you should put on there and what you shouldn't. Listen to people when they try to give you safety tips, because you never know how much it could help you.

There are just so many different websites that provide great advice on how to stay safe online, so I would say spend the time to get to know how to stay safe online. The message is to have fun on the internet, and not to stop you from having fun, but to keep you safe while you do it.

This job must be keeping you pretty busy, what do you do in your spare time?

I love hanging out with my friends - whether it be going out, shopping, movies or talking online through MSN and Facebook.

What is your favorite place to shop?

Stocks! It's a shop that has Elwood and other funky brands. I also love brands like Volcom, Billabong and DC. My style is casual with surf and skate brands.

Fave beauty product you use right now.

Perfume. I love M by Mariah Carey.

What's something you can't live without?

My phone! I love texting.

What is your fave quote?

Never regret the things that made you smile!

If you would like to know more about protecting yourself online, head to; www.thinkuknow.co.uk, a website suggested by the Australian Federal Police.