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The UK's toughest job is based in Cambridge - could you do it?




Applicants have until Friday to apply for Britain's toughest job.

It is being billed as the UK’s toughest job and candidates will need to pass some gruelling tests if they are to be successful and become an analyst for the Histon-based Internet Watch Foundation (IWF).

There are 12 analysts working on the IWF hotline, and the charity is looking for one more who can help its mission to eliminate child sexual abuse imagery online.

An analyst’s job is to assess reports of online child sexual abuse content and proactively search for child sexual abuse material and remove it.

The IWF’s work with the online industry has resulted in just 0.1 per cent of known child sexual abuse images and videos in the world being hosted in the UK. Back in 1996 this country hosted 18 per cent of the material.

Susie Hargreaves, CEO at IWF, said: “Our analysts are our heroes. Every day they put themselves on the line to save children from sexual abuse across the world.

“Most of what we see is children aged 10 and under, and content can also show rape and sexual torture of the victim. It really is Britain’s toughest job.

“Recruiting the right person is quite an intensive process with more stages than you might expect. We need to know the candidate is mentally up to the task.

“We hope potential applicants will see what a hugely rewarding role this is and be willing to get in touch.”

The application process involves interviews, a psychological assessment and an image viewing session. The IWF, in Chivers Way, seeks people with the ability to handle the role, rather than past experience.

One analyst, named Peter for anonymity, said: “The feeling you get when you know you’ve saved a child from sexual abuse is indescribable – it’s a real rush of happiness.

“Soon after I joined the IWF, I identified an image that looked new. The image was of a young schoolgirl in her bedroom. I noticed the decor and her clothing, so the team all started researching it and trying to find out where she was from.

“We reported it and within a few days the police had called and they had found her and rescued her and she was safe.

“I can’t tell you how great we all felt when we got the news. Moments like that remind you why you’re doing what you do.”

Applications deadline is Friday (November 3). Apply online at iwf.org.uk.



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