Dorset plays host to its third
internet safety day this Saturday, 6 February 2010 to coincide with
National Internet Safety Day (Tuesday 9 February 2010)
The free public event, aimed at raising
awareness of keeping children and young people safe online, takes
place at The Mulberry Centre, Weymouth, on Saturday, 6 February
2010. With a fourth planned at the Children’s Centre (above the
Dolphin Shopping Centre), Poole on Saturday, 13 February 2010.
Parents, carers and children will be able to drop in between 10am
and 4pm on both dates.
The
events have been organised by Dorset’s Safe School and Communities
Team (SSCT) and are supported by Dorset Police, Bournemouth Borough
Council, Borough of Poole, Dorset County Council, South West Grid
For Learning and the Local Safeguarding Children’s Boards.
British Sign Language interpreters will be
present at both events.
Two similar events were held in Bournemouth
and Dorchester in October 2009, where more than 300 people
attended.
Every school in Dorset has been sent an invite
to the free events which will feature various internet safety
presentations from members of the SSCT and South West
Grid For Learning. The presentations are suitable for children aged
between four and 16 years old.
The majority of presentations will be
interactive and some also include videos. Presentations include
‘Cybercafe’, ‘Hector’s World’, ‘Think You Know’, and
‘Cyberbullying’.
All the presentations are repeated throughout
the day and last no longer than 30 minutes.
Parents and carers, over the age of 18, will
also be given the opportunity to watch a hard-hitting presentation
entitled ‘It happens in Dorset’ by Chief Inspector Dave Cregg. This
will include recorded interviews with a young online grooming
victim and comments from her mother.
View news release and video - 'Teenage victim
warns others after internet grooming' - from the first Dorset
Internet Safety day in October 2009 by following this link
>
Chief Inspector Cregg said: “Criminal activity
in relation to the internet is a growing problem.
“I want to make parents aware of the potential
risks attached to the internet and give them the information they
need to help safeguard their children.
"For the past few years, the Safe Schools and
Communities Team has been providing schools with support material,
delivering talks and holding ‘Cybersafe’ parents evenings, but this
event will hopefully target parents in a more direct but fun
way.
“We’re not asking families to spend all day at
the event, simply pop-in, listen to a few talks and watch some
videos.
“If parents leave the event having learnt just
one piece of advice from the team, then it’s all been worth
it.”
Parents, carers and young people of all ages
can expect to get advice about how to stay safe online, learn how
to report incidents, create safe social-networking sites and find
out about the potential effects of cyber-bullying.
Children will also be treated to circus skills
and ball games, thanks to West Dorset District Council’s Action
Van.
For toddlers, there will be extra
entertainment and a crèche facility (only at Weymouth event).
For support and advice about staying safe
online, contact the SSCT on (01202)
222844 or e-mail: ssct@dorset.pnn.police.uk
USEFUL WEBSITES
http://www.ceop.gov.uk/ – Child
Exploitation & Online Protection Agency
http://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/ –
advice on social networks, blogs and file sharing
http://www.getsafeonline.org.uk/
– free, expert advice on staying safe on-line
http://www.virtualglobaltaskforce.com/
- an international alliance of law enforcement agencies working
together to prevent and deter online child abuse.
http://www.digizen.org/ – site for
teachers and parents on cyber bullying
http://www.stopcyberbullying.org/
– charity against cyber-bullying
http://www.nspcc.org.uk/ – charity
to help for children and young people
http://www.childnet-int.org/ –
contains internet safety rules for ages 8-14 and other useful
information for parents and carers.
Download the Dorset
Internet Safety Day poster by following this link (468kb PDF)
>