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If a child is in immediate danger, dial 999 and ask to speak to police.
The Police: If you have concerns about child exploitation, you can report them online at www.essex.police.uk where you can also speak to an online Live Chat operator. Alternatively, you can ring 101.
Essex Police child exploitation hotline: for parents, carers and members of the public to seek advice around concerns they may have about their own or other children with regards to criminal and sexual exploitation: 01245 452058.
Crimestoppers: You can report concerns anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or www.crimestoppers-uk.org
CEOP: You can report online abuse through the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) website or the Internet Watch Foundation.
The Lucy Faithfull Foundation: Stop It Now! Child sexual abuse helpline - The Lucy Faithfull Foundation. This is a helpline for anyone worried about their own, or another person’s (adult or child) sexual behaviour or sexual interests.
Report, Remove Tool: You can report a nude image or video using Childline's Report Remove tool.
Samaritans online safety hub: Remember that inappropriate online material, which could be harmful and distressing, can be reported through social media channels for review and potential removal. The Samaritans online safety hub, co-designed by young people has lots of useful information including how to report worrying content.
Have a conversation:
A simple and effective way to get involved with your children and their lives online is through discussion. By maintaining an open dialogue with your child and encouraging them to talk to you about their internet use parents can help children access the amazing resources the internet has to offer whilst keeping them safe online.
Conversation starter ideas:
Ask your children to tell you about the sites they like to visit and what they enjoy doing online.
Ask them about how they stay safe online. What tips do they have for you, and where did they learn them? What is OK and not OK to share?
Ask them if they know where to go for help, where to find the safety advice, privacy settings and how to report or block on the services they use.
Encourage them to help. Perhaps they can show you how to do something better online or they might have a friend who would benefit from their help and support.
Think about how you use the internet as a family. What could you do to get more out of the internet together and further enjoy your lives online
Internet Security:
Parents often ask how they can monitor their children’s access to the Internet. There are various ways, including many different programs, to safeguard web users. However if your children are under ten, then it is advisable to supervise them closely whenever they are online. You can subscribe to child-friendly internet services, it may be worth contacting your provider to see what they have to offer.
Need advice setting online controls on PCs/laptops/tablets/phones with your internet provider then find out how at www.internetmatters.org
Online Control:
There are also programs which block access to sites that are on a “bad” list, or ones which only allow access to sites that are on a “good” list. Programs that you could try include SafeSurf at www.safesurf.com
Some search engines can also be set to use a “family filter”, such as www.google.com.
Don’t forget that it’s not just websites you have to screen either: other internet programs like chat services and bulletin boards may include inappropriate material, and people can also send unsuitable emails to your children. Please remember that no program will screen all unsuitable material.
We direct the children to the ‘Think U Know’ websites to provide them with safe surfing guidelines. This website also has a section dedicated to parents and carers, click here to read more.
The website can also show you how to add tools to your search engines to protect your children.
Technology can provide children with a window to the world, offering them lots of opportunities to learn new things, have fun and stay in touch. You might notice your child is spending more time online at home, playing games, scrolling through social media, or chatting to friends than you would like. It is vital that children know how to navigate the internet and social media safely and do not become "screen zombies." For help and advice, visit the Essex Safeguarding Children's Board website https://www.escb.co.uk/parentcarer/online-safety or use some of the other links below.
AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE THERE IS ADVICE ON POPULAR GAMES.
Cyberbullying and What to do
What is cyberbullying? https://esafetytraining.org/resources/parents-carers-area/cyberbullying/
There are always new concerns about children using various Apps, games and internet media. The 2 Johns, who many of you will know from our parent workshops, always share up to date advice for parents on: https://www.esafetytraining.org/ so check here regularly.
How to keep your child safe online:
Teach your child never to share their real name, address, telephone number, photos of themselves or those taken in their home location or other personal information online, without talking to you first, even if they believe they are talking to a friend. Most children will happily say they do this but will then happily give their name to someone they think is a child online!
Even the best parent cannot expect to keep up to date with the latest APPs and social media used by children so ask your own child to teach you. Learn how they use and mobiles, gaming consoles, tablets etc and see what they use. Remember that you need to be on the internet journey with your child at the start and investigate each APP/stop with them! Don't be the parent who put them on the train with their first mobile and waved them off alone into the unknown.
Keeping devices a family room means that you can share your child’s online experience and that they are less likely to act inappropriately, however this is not practicable with the use of laptops, smaller mobile devices and tablets that are available today. If your child posts a picture or video online, anyone can change or share it. Teach them to only post pictures they would be willing to share with close family members. Anyone may be looking at their images both now and in the future and one day this could be a future employer!
If your child receives spam/junk email & texts, remind them never to believe them, reply to them or open them. Teach them about "fake news" and the fact that not everything on the internet is true.
Teach your child not to open messages or accept friend requests or muti-player game invites from people they don’t know. They could contain an inappropriate image, threat or bribe. Help your child to understand that some people lie online and therefore it’s better to keep "online" friends online and not meet up with them in real life. Click here for parent advice on this: https://esafetytraining.org/resources/parents-carers-area/messaging-video-apps/
Consider looking at your child’s texts and emails. This is a personal decision for you as a parent but if a strange adult approached your child in the street and spoke to them…would you go over and listen in or leave them and say you respect their privacy?
Teach children how to block someone online and how to report them if they feel uncomfortable.
Always keep communication open between you and your child. Never threaten to ban or confiscate the mobile device…they will just go online without telling you! Make sure they know that it’s never too late to tell someone if something makes them feel uncomfortable. Tell them you are there to support them, not judge them and you do not want to stop them from having an on-line existence. Ask them who they could tell if telling you is too hard!
Agree screen free times as a whole family. https://esafetytraining.org/resources/parents-carers-area/screen-time/
Use age appropriate resources together with your child whatever their age. https://esafetytraining.org/resources/childrens-area/ Parents: Supporting Young People Online (Childnet) https://www.childnet.com/ufiles/Supporting-Young-People-Online.pdf
Leaflets available in a range of other languages here https://www.childnet.com/resources/supporting-young-people-online
REMEMBER...EXPLOITATION IS NEVER THE CHILD'S FAULT!
Teach your child to recognise the CEOP logo, as we do in school. Sit with them and click on it to show them what to do to report something which has made them feel uncomfortable at https://www.ceop.police.uk/ceop-reporting or telephone: +44 (0)870 000 3344) Other ways of reporting can be found at https://esafetytraining.org/resources/parents-carers-area/reporting/ or by clicking on the link above.
Concerns about child exploitation can be reported to the Police on 101 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
NCAsextortion letter for parents.pdfE-safety things to do together and discuss as a family, from C.E.O.P.
Activity Sheet_Social Media.pdfActivity Sheet_Watching videos online.pdfActivity Sheet_Live streaming.pdfActivity Sheet_Sharing images online.pdfActivity Sheet_Gaming.pdfActivity Sheet_Cyber security.pdf
Further resources for parents and carers:
Further resources for parents and carers:
Websites
Understand the risks of 'self-generated child sexual abuse imagery' - Internet Watch Foundation
Sexting advice for parents - how to have those important conversations with children
Tackling online hate quiz - (from Internet Matters) empowers young people to tackle online hate.
E-book
Digiduck's Big Decision - children's e-book about making safe choices online
Videos
https://www.saferinternet.org.uk/ stories, games and quizzes for 4-19 year olds aimed at keeping them safe online.
https://www.childnet.com/ online resources to keep children safe on the internet for children, parents and teachers
https://www.childnet.com/parents-and-carers key advice on reporting concerns and what parents need to know about the internet.
https://www.internetmatters.org/ Get expert support and practical tips to help children benefit from connected technology and the internet safely and smartly.
https://www.saferinternet.org.uk/advice-centre/parents-and-carers A range of resources from Europe and the UK for parents.
https://www.net-aware.org.uk Explains the latest games and APPs and advices parents on keeping their child safe online.
http://www.breckfoundation.org/ The Breck Foundation. A Self-funding Charity set up by the parent of an exploited child.
http://www.breckfoundation.org/ Practical advice on setting up Parental Controls and all the latest APPs.
https://www.childnet.com/ufiles/Supporting-Young-People-Online.pdf Suggested Family ground rules when using the internet at home.
https://nationalcollege.com/guides/what-parents-and-carers-need-to-know-about-spotify Free online guide covering what parents needs to know about Spotify.
On the internet... (Childnet)
'On the internet' is a learning-to-read book for children aged 4 and above. The large, bright illustrations show all the different ways that the internet can be used for. Find On the internet here: https://www.childnet.com/resources/a-learning-to-read-book
Other Childnet books for younger children include:
Smartie the Penguin (3 to 7 year olds) https://www.childnet.com/resources/smartie-the-penguin
Digiduck's Big Decision (3 to 7 year olds) https://www.childnet.com/resources/digiduck-stories
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