Northamptonshire Police appeal to children to report inappropriate online activity
Northamptonshire Police have launched a week long campaign aimed at making young people safer online.
The "Follow the Mouse" campaign aims to teach young people about the risks of sending indecent pictures of themselves to friends or by chatting to strangers on the internet.
The campaign follows on from the Police and Crime Commission’s Online Safety Report, the result of a consultation exercise which enabled the collation of responses from nearly 13,000 children, young people, parents and carers from across the County.
Online Safety Report - key findings
One in four primary school-age children have seen something online that has upset them.
One quarter of 11 to 15 year olds and nearly half 16 to 18 year olds have talked to people online that they have never met in person.
6% aged between 11 and 15 say they have arranged to meet in person someone that they met online which rises to 16% of 16 to 18 year olds.
11% between 11 and 15 have received requests for explicit images or sexual remarks, which increases to 26% amongst those aged 16 to 18.
One in four 11 to 15 year olds and 40% of 16 to 18 year olds say they have shared or posted inappropriate photos or videos.
For children aged five to eleven, the most common cause of upsetting experiences online is games accessed through the internet.
Almost one in five children and young people have been bullied online and half of those report being affected by it.
Children and young people from across the county are being asked to report any inappropriate online activity.
This includes things like offensive or upsetting photos, videos or language, experiences of cyber bullying or being contacted by strangers pretending to be friends.
To report inappropriate online activity to Northamptonshire Police click here.
For helpful advice and tools on how you can keep your child safe whenever and wherever they go online click here.