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Young people urged to Stay Safe Online
MERSEYSIDE are warning young people
to stay safe online following:- 'Safer Internet Day', that on
Tuesday, 9 February 2016. 'Safer Internet Day' is marked every
year in more than a hundred countries and in the UK by Police Forces,
Schools, Youth Charities, Councils and many media organisations. The aim is
to promote safe, responsible and positive use of the internet and social
media by children and young people. The theme for this year's was 'Play your
part for a better internet'. Merseyside Police works with partner
organisations to tackle online criminality such as grooming, the sharing of
indecent images, hacking and fraud. But officers also want to help people
stop becoming victims of these crimes in the first place by educating
children, teenagers and adults about how to stay safe whenever they are
online. Superintendent David McCaughrean said:- "The internet is now
part and parcel of our everyday lives and increasingly children and young
people are relying on it to do school work, communicate and stay in touch
with friends and family. Safer Internet Day is all about giving young people
the know how and confidence to both stay safe online and behave more
responsibly online too. We would always advise that it a young person
becomes uncomfortable or suspicious of someone else's behaviour online then
they should report it. Parents should also regularly monitor their child's
internet activity and speak to them if they have any concerns. I want to
emphasise that up to 80% of online crimes could be be prevented by people
spending time taking control of their online profiles and activity and that
of their loved ones instead of letting it control them. The
website allows people to take a quiz to see
what they would do if they had concerns about a friend's privacy settings, a
fake profile, a suspicious friend request, or online bullying. If we all
take just a minute or two out of our day to learn a little more about this
issue we can all help make the internet a safer and more pleasant place to
socialise and share our experiences with others." For more
information on staying safe online visit:-
SaferInternet.Org.UK or visit the
Merseyside Police
website. |
