As part of National Parents Week (October 21 to 27), Bedfordshire Police is
running a special internet safety workshop aimed specifically at parents and
guardians.
On Tuesday October 22, Bedfordshire Police’s Children & Young People
Development Officer and school coordinator Richard Denton will be hosting the
event at Sandye Place Academy in Park Road, Sandy from 7pm.
The workshop will feature useful hints about internet security as well as
tips about keeping children safe online and how to identify signs of
cyber-bullying.
Richard Denton said: “The Internet is a fantastic tool and the majority of
the time it is a beneficial, fun and educational resource. We are just asking
everyone to apply common sense and follow a few simple safety measures.
“This workshop aims to enhance parents’ and guardians’ understanding and
awareness of the internet. Parents and guardians need to know who their children
are talking to, what information they choose to share and how to maintain
privacy. We hope that this event will enhance the work we do all year round to
keep young people safe online.”
Any parent or guardian who is interested in attending the event can book a
place by contacting the Sandye Place Academy directly on 01767 680420
To get up to date advice about staying safe online visit http://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/ If you are
concerned about any content or activity on your child's internet and social
networking sites then please contact Bedfordshire Police by calling 101.
Follow Bedfordshire Police top 10 Internet safety tips:
- Look at installing security products that allow parents / carers to block certain websites, implement time limits and monitor activity.
- Help your children to understand that they should never give out personal details to online friends they do not know offline.
- Explain to your children what information about them is personal: i.e. email address, mobile number, school name, sports club. Small pieces of information can easily be pieced together to form a comprehensive insight in to their lives and daily activities.
- Make your children aware that they need to think carefully about the information and pictures they post on their profiles. Inform them that once published online, anyone can change or share these images of them.
- It can be easy to forget that the internet is not a private space, and as a result young people sometimes engage in risky behaviour online. Advise your children not to post any pictures, videos or information on their profiles, or in chat rooms, that they would not want a parent or carer to see.
- If your child receives spam or junk email and texts, remind them never to believe their contents, reply to them or use them.
- It's not a good idea for your child to open files that are from people they don't know. They won't know what they contain—it could be a virus, or worse – an inappropriate image or film.
- Help your child to understand that some people lie online and that therefore it's better to keep online mates online. They should never meet up with any strangers.
- Always keep communication open for a child to know that it's never too late to tell someone if something makes them feel uncomfortable.
If you have information relating to online crime call Bedfordshire Police in
confidence on the 101 non-emergency number, or text information to 07786
200011.
Alternatively contact independent charity Crimestoppers,
anonymously, on 0800 555 111, or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.
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