Protect Your Family on the Internet

Children today are into technology and many use the Internet within their own homes, schools, cybercafes or any other local clubs.

The Internet is a valuable resource for learning but it can also have hidden dangers and can place our children and young people at risk of sexual exploitation and give people who try to sexually exploit children, a way into our children's lives.

All parents and carers need to be aware of the potential danger that children face by Internet misuse and we hope that this leaflet will help you understand how you can prevent your child from becoming a victim of expoitation or abuse.

What is the Internet?

The Internet and the World Wide Web are wonderful information resources for both parents and children. Children can learn a lot by doing research for school reports, by sending and receiving emails and by playing educational games.

But in an environment where a child old enough to punch in a few letters on his or her keyboard can literally access the world, parents need to be vigilant about monitoring what their children see and hear, who they meet and what they say about themselves on the World Wide Web. That free, uncensored connection to the world can potentially be dangerous.

The World Wide Web, one portion of the Internet, is a vast network of virtual 'libraries'. Not everything in those libraries is something you'd like to see or have your children see. For example, a child could easily miss a keystroke and easily enter a web site which is totally unacceptable for them to see.

Facts

• 65% of children aged 7-16 now use the Internet

• Many parents/carers don't see children at risk when at home using computers

• Total number of chat facilities available to UK users is over 100,000

• Surveys reveal that 29% of children and young people would give out their home address on the Internet

• Approximately 33% of the UK is now on the Internet

• 'Chat' is the most popular website among young people

• Most likely targets of paedophiles on the Internet are girls aged mainly between 13 and 17

How to protect your child

• Talk to your child about the danger of online predators

• Try to place your computer in a room common to all - whereby you can see that the screen is visible to all members of the household

• You are able to block software if you feel it is unsuitable

• Always have access to your child's online account and check his/her email. Be open about this with your child and inform them as to why you are doing this

• Talk to your child about the fact that what they are told online may not be true

• Discuss with your child never to meet someone as a result of an electronic contact unless parents or carers are fully aware of what is happening and agree. If your child does meet someone make sure the meeting is in a public place with plenty of people around and with a friend.

• Advise your child never to send photographs to anyone they have met online. This could be reproduced and turned into a pseudo-pornographic picture and posted on the web. In addition, photographs and personal etails should never be included on web sites if they identify an individual.

• Report any offensive illegal material you find online to www.iwf.org.uk who will investigate the site with an aim to close it down.

• Tell your children never to give out addresses and telephone numbers, including mobiles, credit card or bank details to anyone online.

• Remember the Internet has a wealth of information which can help your child enormously throughout their education butin order that your child can use it properly and safely always let them know of the dangers which exist and encourage them to discuss this with you.

Useful Internet Sites
 Chat Danger

 Reporting bad stuff

 NCH

 Rotherham Safe Surfing Guide


Useful Numbers
South Yorkshire Police
Tel: 0114 220 2020

Crimestoppers
Tel: 0800 555111

Childline
Tel: 0800 1111

NSPCC Helpline
Tel: 0800 800 500

Children's Protection & Planning Officers
Tel: 01709 382121

Social Services
Tel: 01709 382121

Internet Watch Hotline
Tel: 0845 600 8844

This information is contained within a leaflet which can be obtained from the Children's Protection, Performance and Quality Unit on tel: 01709 822338.