In support of Safer Internet Day (SID) 2014 and highlighting the need for parents to be aware of the dangers of the internet, Deputy Police & Crime Commissioner Sophie Howe talks about how her son was targeted online.
Safer Internet Day is organised by the UK Safer Internet Centre to promote the safe and responsible use of online technology and mobile phones for children and young people. This year the theme is ‘let’s create a better internet together’.
Deputy Police & Crime Commissioner Sophie Howe says:
”As Deputy Police & Crime Commissioner and a Mum I feel it is important to raise awareness of the potential risks to children when using the internet unsupervised, and that the best way of demonstrating how easily young people can be targeted is by sharing my own personal experience.
“Whilst the internet is a hugely useful resource for learning and socialising, the reality is not everyone is who they say they are online and our children are only a few clicks away from age inappropriate content.”
The South Wales Police Public Protection Department works with partners to promote online safety and a recent internet safety poster campaign achieved engagement with schools across South Wales.
As part of an ongoing education programme, the team also visit local schools to highlight good practice when communicating online, along with the implications of posting personal information and ‘sexting’ (the sending of sexually explicit photographs or messages) if you are under the age of 18.
Detective Inspector Heard says:
“Children are becoming computer literate at an earlier age and are happening upon adult content far more regularly than we would like.
“This is because children today have regular access to the net and its use very often goes un-moderated. Most nine and 10 year olds already have access to game consoles, mobile phones and iPads and admit to chatting with people they don’t know.”
This is supported by Knowthenet’s ‘The Social Age’ survey which found that:
- Children begin exploring the web and viewing social media sites aged 9;
- At aged 10, over half (59%) of children have used a social network;
- While 63% of parents check their child’s internet activity at least once a week, over a fifth (21%) are not confident they could install parental controls.
Detective Superintendent Lorraine Davies, Specialist Crime, siad:
“We listen to the feedback and concerns of parents and children and their views and suggestions are proactively progressed through joint working with our partners. This feedback also forms part of a long term plan to continually raise awareness and provide parents with more information, as technology develops, to help them keep their children safe online.”
Further information for parents and carers can be accessed at the UK Safer Internet Centre.
The Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP), has also set up a website which allows children, parents and carers to report any suspicious online activity. If you believe someone has acted inappropriately towards your child online please report it.
