The internet is a playground for predators and fraudsters – we must protect our children

The Police and Crime Commissioner, Donna Jones, says it is vital parents, schools, tech companies, and law enforcement step up and do more to protect children online.

Data on children aged 10-15 years old from the Office for National Statistics for the England and Wales Crime Survey reveals that in the year ending March 2023, 35% accepted a friend request online from someone they did not know, 8.5% shared their location publicly, and an estimated 19.2% exchanged messages online with someone they had never met in person. Almost 1 in 10 children aged 13-15 received a sexual message while just over 19% experienced online bullying behaviour.

The PCC’s call comes on Safer Internet Day (11 February 2025), the annual campaign promoting a safer digital environment for children and young people. It raises awareness of online safety issues including cyberbullying, data misuse, and exposure to harmful content.

PCC Donna Jones said: “Every child deserves to explore the digital world without danger. If there isn’t sufficient protection and education, the internet is a dangerous space for children and young people. Social media, gaming platforms, and messaging apps are all being exploited by criminals to groom, exploit, and harm children and young people.

“Children may be more tech savvy than us but they may also not fully know or understand the risks and dangers involved. Sadly for some families, these risks lead to tragic consequences.”

The PCC’s Youth Commission runs a Cyber Ambassador scheme for primary schools with a peer-led approach where a number of pupils learn about key online safety issues. Ambassadors then pass their learning onto their friends and peers offering helpful support and advice.

In 2024, 29 primary schools across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight received the training, paid for by the PCC, with 312 students becoming Cyber Ambassadors. Since its launch in 2016, the scheme has been delivered to more than 150 schools across the region.

This initiative has inspired the National Cyber Security Centre to roll out a national programme creating its own student leader scheme for CyberFirst.

PCC Donna Jones said: “I am pleased that my Cyber Ambassador Scheme is being recognised as a model to follow. The initiative is having a meaningful effect not only in the schools here but further afield where it is being seen as best practice for online safety for children and young people.

“The scheme works because it’s not about adults telling children what to do, it’s about their peers and friends giving them credible and realistic advice that will help them keep safe online.”

Together with the Online Safety Bill that places new legal duties and responsibilities on online service providers, the Police Commissioner hopes people will be kept safe. Key obligations for platforms include removing illegal content and working to prevent it from appearing in the first place. Failure to comply with the rules under the Bill can result in multi-million pound fines or criminal prosecution.

To know more about the PCC’s Cyber Ambassador scheme, you can email OPCC.CyberAmbassadorScheme@hampshire.police.uk