Don’t Let Your Guard Down During The School Holidays

North Wales Police are reminding young people and their parents not to let their guard down during the school holidays when going on-line via their PC or Smartphone. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

DC Nick Hawe, North Wales Police Cyber Crime Officer said; “Most children today use the internet with the age of engagement getting younger and the level of knowledge greater. With the use of smartphones children can access the Internet at home, while out and about with friends or at school. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“During term time there is plenty of interaction with teachers and School Community Police Officers offering advice about the safe use of the Internet and the potential dangers. However, during school holidays there may be a tendency to let the guard down and so we’d like to reinforce that vigilance needs to be kept 24/7 and 365 days a year” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Many parents have no idea what their children are viewing on the internet. They may be unaware that their child has encountered violent or sexual content or is engaged in inappropriate conversation with strangers. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

By taking an active role in supervising how your child uses the internet, you can help to ensure that they continue to have fun on the net and find the information they are looking for, while keeping safe. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Steps to safe surfing ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• Make sure you have a secure internet connection.
• Write down a list of rules and put it in a place close to the computer where they can be easily read. Talk through the rules with your child so they understand why they’re there.
• Don’t site computers in places where it is difficult to monitor what your child is viewing.
• Show an interest in what they’re doing online. If possible get to know your child’s online friends in the same way that you would get to know their school or neighbourhood friends.
• Reinforce the message about safety considerations to your children when they are chatting with people online.
• Check out our advice for your child and social networking pages so you know how to advise them.
• Encourage your child to tell you about anything they think is inappropriate and reassure them it is not their fault. Make sure they know you will support them.
  If they report anything to you, contact police via 101 or alternatively ask to speak to your child’s School
• Community Police Officer. You can also report abuse online to the Virtual Global Taskforce and report illegal images to the Internet Watch Foundation.

You should not assume you child is safe online just because they use it safely at home. If your child has a Facebook page, suggest they download the ‘ClickCeop’ button which will allow them to access advice and guidance and report concerns directly to The Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP). Many other social networking sites also have links to CEOP. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

DC Hawe added; “Our goal is to promote safer and more responsible use of online technology and mobile phones, especially among children and young people. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The internet is an important tool in our daily lives and we should encourage children to use it safely and wisely.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​