Dear Resident,

Are you a parent? Or, do you care for a child or young person?

Today is Safer Internet Day, and the Police and Crime Commissioner, Donna Jones, is urging parents, schools, tech companies, and law enforcement to step up and do more to protect children online.

All parents want their children to be able to explore the digital world safely. Recent data on children aged 10-15 from the Office for National Statistics for the England and Wales Crime Survey reveals that in the year ending March 2023, 35% accepted friend requests from strangers, 8.5% shared their location publicly, and an estimated 19.2% exchanged messages online with someone they had never met. Almost 1 in 10 children aged 13-15 received a sexual message, and just over 19% experienced online bullying behaviour.

The Commissioner says every child deserves to explore the digital world without danger. Without sufficient protection and education, the internet is a dangerous space as criminals groom, exploit, and harm children and young people.

Help is at hand in primary schools through the PCC's Cyber Ambassador Scheme where pupils learn about online safety and share their knowledge with peers. In 2024, 29 primary schools across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight received the training, paid for by the PCC, with 312 students becoming Cyber Ambassadors. Since its launch in 3016, the scheme has reached over 150 schools and inspired a national programme by the National Cyber Security Centre.

For more information on the PCC's Cyber Ambassador Scheme, email OPCC.CyberAmbassadorScheme@hampshire.police.uk or to seek practical help now visit Tips for Parents and Carers - UK Safer Internet Centre