Police officers step out to protect children against ‘cyber-bullying’ (From Evesham Journal)

Police officers step out to protect children against ‘cyber-bullying’

11:52am Thursday 19th June 2008 in News

THREE local police officers have started out on an energy-sapping endurance challenge to promote a campaign aimed at combating a worrying new crime which is on the increase.

West Mercia Constabulary's internet safety fortnight began on Monday and in order to raise awareness of the campaign to beat cyber-bullies, the officers have donned lycra suits as they cycle and run from Land's End to John O'Groats.

Det Chf Insp Sean Paley, Insp Richard Horder and Sgt Bob Twigg left Land's End yesterday and will be stopping in at schools along their route to speak to parents and children about the campaign.

As the trio complete their journey, their colleagues in the Vale will be doing their bit on a local level so that children and young people know how to stay safe on the internet.

Over the next two weeks officers will visit schools and various locations across the area to hand out leaflets promoting the campaign.

The rapid rise in the popularity in social networking sites such as Bebo, Facebook and Myspace have given teenagers an easy way of meeting hundreds of new friends online but the force campaign warns that not every one of the new acquaintances will have the child's best interests at heart.

Det Supt Martin Lakeman, head of public protection for West Mercia Constabulary, said: "There is a need to promote internet safety with the increasing popularity of social networking sites.

"While the internet is a fantastic way of meeting new people and keeping in touch with family and friends, people need to remember there is a need to exercise caution and should be very wary of putting too many personal details on the internet."

The campaign is also about educating parents on the dangers that the internet can present and it is likely that in many cases the parent is unaware of how much personal information is being broadcast on the internet by their child.

Det Supt Lakeman added: "For many parents, social networking sites like Bebo, Facebook and Myspace are alien environments that they don't know much about, which means they are not sure what safety advice to give to their children.

"It's not easy to talk to a young person about their online social networking as they regard it as their private domain. However, because of the public nature of these sites, it is important that parents understand what is involved.

"The whole emphasis of this safety programme is to ensure children and parents understand potential risks posed by the internet balanced against the fantastic knowledge which can be gained from it."

West Mercia police have also come up with five simple rules of how to stay SMART online - l Safe - Do not give out personal information such as full name and address or phone number.

l Meeting - Meeting up with someone you have only met online is potentially dangerous.

l Accepting - Be careful when accepting files from unknown sources as they may contain a virus.

l Reliable - Some people on internet social networking sites will lie about who they are.

l Tell - Tell a parent or carer if someone is making you feel uncomfortable or worried.

One cyber-bullying case currently being given news coverage across the world is that of 13-year-old American girl Megan Meier.

Megan's next-door neighbour Lori Drew, aged 49, is standing trial accused of creating a fake identity on Myspace in order to cyberbully Megan who eventually committed suicide in October 2006.

The case caused shockwaves in America and Det Supt Lakeman said that the need to protect children in the virtual world' is one of the West Mercia Children Safeguarding Board's top priorities.

"Unfortunately the reality is that some people have an unhealthy interest in children and we need to protect children against this.

"The aim of West Mercia's internet safety fortnight is to help answer any questions people have about internet safety and to raise awareness about the steps we can all take to keep ourselves and our families safe online."

For more information on the campaign visit www.think uknow.co.uk.