But the Act is pitifully lacking when it comes to unravelling the intricacies of the Internet, and serves as an ally to the criminals, shielding them with its outdated definitions. In its present form, the 40-year-old Act is seen by many as one of the principle obstacles to arriving at a satisfactory solution.Nigel Williams, the director of Childnet, wants the law to be modernised “and quickly. The meeting served to mend rifts between the Internet community and the Met and allowed the police to re-emphasise the need for collective discussion on the topic. But then, parts of ECTS, Europe’s largest computer entertainment show, are stunningly uninspiring.

“But children are very motivated by computers, and if their skills in other areas have been compromised, this is an area where they can look and feel normal.”Meanwhile, Harry’s computer may help him in new ways. Jill Sullivan plans to use it in her latest role, running a campaign against the threatened closure of her son’s special needs school.The Children’s Head Injury Trust, 01865 224786. The uninspiringly named European Computer Trade Show (ECTS) is one of the noisiest shindigs to fill Olympia. It is like stepping into video arcade heaven (or hell, depending on your perspective), with your senses assailed from all sides as spotty urchins send aliens to their untimely deaths. After a brain-damaging accident, it can take a long time to work out which functions have been affected: “There is so much interaction between the different skills – physical, cognitive and emotional – that it is a complex picture to tease out,” says Dewing. Children begin by touching the screen when they see a picture, then go on to match pictures,” Ms Dewing says.

“The software helps them to shift their attention in various ways and tries to distract them.” Computers also lend themselves audio-visual interpretation and reasoning skills, she says. Attention is a common problem and it underlies many of the other difficulties that a child will have.”I use a program called Thinkable. Sarah Dewing, a therapist at the Tadworth rehabilitation unit in Surrey, says: “Computers do have a lot to offer in terms of improving children’s concentration. “The problem is that most stolen components are untraceable, so there is no way of knowing if you’re buying them.”FBI officials reckon that much of the component theft in the US is carried out by Asian crime gangs in the San Francisco Bay area. Last February, the FBI carried out Operation West Chip and arrested a number of Vietnamese- American suspected gang members.

“The problem with the Asian gangs is that it becomes international,” says Sun’s Mr O’Loughlin. “Components stolen in the Silicon Valley will probably be in Taipei or Hong Kong in a couple of days.”According to industry watchers, Taiwan and Hong Kong are ideal destinations for stolen components because there are thousands of small PC assembly operators that buy from the computer markets. In Taiwan, computer components are sold in Taipei’s Kwang Hwa Computer Bazaar. Some traders openly admit that not all of the goods on sale were acquired legitimately. But Taiwanese crime organisations pose another major problem to both the industry and police forces.