Parental controls

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Parental controls are tools that can be used to filter, control and monitor internet activity. Parental controls are one tool that can be used and having them doesn’t mean that regular chats around online activity shouldn’t take place.

Parental controls won’t protect children from issues like cyber bullying, losing control over pictures/videos that they’ve shared or getting a bad online reputation.

Parental controls can be put on televisions, computers, gaming devices and mobile devices like tablets and phones. If you’re not sure how to use (or if you even have) parental controls, contact your service provider and ask them. Not all parental controls are free of charge so you may want to check that out.

Activating parental controls

Internet Matters.org has produced guides to setting up parental controls across a number of platforms. You can find out more by clicking the image.

The following parental control checklists have been created by the South West Grid for Learning…

We’ve been surfing the web to look at a number of websites for companies that provide internet services and find their ‘parental control’ pages. If you’re with one of the following service providers, please visit their website to find out what service is available to you.

Online Gaming

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Many gaming devices now mean that children and young people can play online against people they know and people they don’t know (which can include adults). As well as just playing games together people can also interact in other ways. It’s important to make sure that games are suitable for their age and that children understand how they can stay safer.

Online gaming things to think about

  • Does my child’s gaming device have parental controls that I can use?
  • Who is my child interacting with? Are they adults or children?
  • If my child is playing games online with strangers, what types of things can we both do to help make that experience safer?
  • What type of language are people using in the games and is it appropriate for my child?
  • Does my child understand the risks of sharing personal information (e.g. name, email address, phone number) when gaming?
  • Does my child know what to do if they are being bullied by another player?
  • Does my child know what to do if another player does something to make them feel uncomfortable or frightened?
  • What type of content is my child viewing?

Online gaming things to talk about

If you don’t play online games you might not be sure how to talk about gaming with your child but there are some things you can ask them like:

  • What type of games do you like most? (for example Action, Fantasy, Adventure, Fighting, Racing etc).
  • Can you choose the type of character you play in the game?
  • What are the characters like?
  • What types of things can you do in the game?
  • What types of people can you meet in the game?
  • What types of things do people like to talk about?
  • If someone is being a bully or making you feel uncomfortable, how can you report them in the game?
  • Can I have a game with you? (Having a go on the game is a pretty good way to learn, you might have fun but you should probably expect to lose!).

How old?

The PEGI system gives age ratings to products to help adults decide if a game is suitable for their child. As well as age ratings, products feature ‘descriptors’ which show why a product has received a certain age rating. For example this might be because it contains violence (including sexual violence), discrimination, depictions of alcohol and drugs, or bad language.

Support

The following links provide safety support and guidance for their respective consoles and devices.

Cyber Bullying

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When a bully uses the internet as a tool to abuse someone, this is known as cyber bullying or online bullying. As a parent, guardian or carer it doesn’t matter if you don’t understand internet technology, you can still help your child if they are being bullied online.

Blame the Bully, not the technology

Bullies cause cyber bullying and the internet and technology are tools that they use to help make that happen. Taking away your child’s access to the internet won’t necessarily solve the problem. That said, your child may wish to stop using social networks or other things for a while and all of that will need to be talked about and agreed by you and your child together.

Consider if and how you will respond to the bully

Bullies want a reaction of any kind so we suggest to children and young people that they don’t respond at all to online bullies but to report them and block them instead, and to talk to someone they can trust about it. You may want to respond to the bully. If that’s the case, do this when you have had time to consider what your want to say calmly and carefully.
You may want to explain to the bully that you’re now aware of what’s been going on, have saved the evidence of the bullying and have/or are going to report them to the website or social network they have been using, their school (if they are a child and you know them), their parents (if you know them) or the police if you think what’s happening is serious enough.

Save the evidence

Save the bullying if possible for evidence. This could include saving text messages or keeping a record of what’s been happening online. If the bullying is happening online but you can’t save it due to the system that’s been used you can use something called ‘print screen’ or ‘screen capture’ to copy information into a document and save that separately as evidence. If you’re not sure how to do this you can search for instructions online.

Use Reporting Facilities

Many social networks allow users to ‘report abuse’ and ‘block’ users. As a parent, guardian or carer you may want to encourage your child to find out (if they don’t already know) how they can report someone online so that they feel confident to do it if they need to. It’s also important for children to understand the need to report people for cyber bullying before they ‘block them’ so that action can be taken.

Get your school involved

If you think your child is being bullied online by someone from their school contact the school. Individual schools will have their own policies on bullying / cyber bullying. Whatever the policy if your child is being bullied by someone from their school or someone they don’t know, they may need support of some kind during school hours.

If the bully is from your child’s school that may need some support too so by making a report, you can help. Although each case is different, generally schools should make it very clear what their approach is to bullying (including online bullying).

The following parental control checklists have been created by the South West Grid for Learning…

Keep talking

Any form of bullying can make a child feel alone. Cyber bullying can happen day and night, on school days and weekends. This can be not only upsetting but really tiring. Keep talking with your child to reassure them and let them know that they are not to blame.

When to contact the police

If you think that the level of bullying is serious and that your child is at risk of harm telephone Devon and Cornwall Police on 101 and ask to speak with your local Police Community Support Officer or Youth Intervention Officer. In an emergency always telephone 999.
Like the offline environment there are laws in the UK that apply online. Although each case is different, cyber bullies shouldn’t be surprised to receive a visit from the police if what they have been doing has resulted in a criminal offence. You can find out more about the law at GOV.UK.

Prevent

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Prevent is one of the four elements of CONTEST, the government’s counter-terrorism strategy. It aims to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. The Home Office works with local authorities and a wide range of government departments, and community organisations to deliver the Prevent Strategy.

The Prevent Strategy:

  • responds to the ideological challenge we face from terrorism and aspects of extremism, and the threat we face from those who promote these views

  • provides practical help to prevent individuals from being drawn into terrorism and ensure they are given appropriate advice and support

  • works with a wide range of institutions (including education, criminal justice, faith, charities, online and health) where there are risks of radicalisation that we need to deal with.

The strategy covers all forms of terrorism, including far right extremism and some aspects of non-violent extremism.

Elearning

Prevent duty training:Learn how to support people susceptible to radicalisation

Provider: DfE

published: Free

Prevent sits alongside long-established safeguarding duties on professionals to protect people from a range of other harms such as substance abuse, involvement in gangs and physical and sexual exploitation.

More information

Podcasts

No Entries Found

Video

Websites

Act EarlyPrevent Radicalisation and Extremism by Acting Early

Website: Link

Phone: 0800 011 3764

LinkedIn:

Facebook:

YouTube:

It can be hard to know what to do if you’re worried someone close is expressing extreme views or hatred, which could lead to them harming themselves or others. Working with other organisations, the police protect vulnerable people from being exploited by extremists through a Home Office programme called Prevent. Act early and tell us your concerns in confidence. You won’t be wasting our time and you won’t ruin lives, but you might save them.

ChildlineOnline and telephone support helpline

Website: Link

Phone: 0800 1111

LinkedIn:

Facebook: Link

YouTube:

Childline is here to help anyone under 19 in the UK with any issue they’re going through. You can talk about anything. Whether it’s something big or small, our trained counsellors are here to support you. Childline is free, confidential and available any time, day or night. Get help and advice about a wide range of issues, call us on 0800 1111, talk to a counsellor online, send Childline an email or post on the message boards.

Fully HumanFully Human is the research and development arm of the PSHE Association.

Website: Link

Phone:

LinkedIn:

Facebook:

YouTube:

Fully Human is the research and development arm of the PSHE Association. It’s our place to think, stretch out and join the dots between this fast changing world and what might best support children and young people to navigate it.

The MixThe UK’s leading support service for young people

Website: Link

Phone:

LinkedIn:

Facebook: Link

YouTube: Link

The Mix is the UK’s leading support service for young people. We are here to help you take on any challenge you’re facing – from mental health to money, from homelessness to finding a job, from break-ups to drugs. Talk to us via our online community, on social, through our free, confidential helpline or our counselling service.

Documents

Regional Prevent education coordinatorsHow regional Prevent education coordinators can help providers

Author: DfE

Published: 29-08-2024

The Department for Education (DfE) regional Prevent coordinators support and improve Prevent delivery in each region of England. Their role includes implementing Prevent duty responsibilities across schools, further education (FE) and higher education (HE) settings, as well as any other Department for Education interests in the region.

Link

Classroom Resources

Act for Youth: RUN HIDE TELL

While the chances of being caught up in an attack are rare, these free lessons — developed these lessons in collaboration with the National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO) as part of the Action Counters Terrorism (ACT) for YOUTH campaign — provide vital guidance which can be applied to many places and situations.

Category: Prevent

Audience: KS3, KS4

Developed by: PSHE Association/NaCTSO

Duration (minutes): 2×60

Keywords:

The two lessons cover: the three steps of RUN HIDE TELL and when it would be appropriate to use them; the importance of not using a mobile phone to take photos or film in the event of a knife or gun attack; how to identify suspicious behavior and/or items, and the appropriate actions to take.

More information

Discussing terrorist attacks with primary pupils

The PSHE Association have put together these practical suggestions for ways you can structure questioning, discussion or further learning.

Category: Prevent

Audience: KS1, KS2

Developed by:

Duration (minutes):

Keywords:

Although the PSHE Association normally advise that teaching and learning in PSHE education is built into a planned progressive programme, there are times when teachers need to respond immediately to unforeseen events, such as terrorist attacks.
They have put together these practical suggestions for ways you can structure questioning, discussion or further learning.
When a terrorist attack occurs, pupils will hear about it in a number of ways — some of which may be inaccurate, untrue, or based on rumour or speculation. Wherever they occur, events may create feelings of personal anxiety and fear that children can find hard to articulate. Giving them a context to discuss, question and express their thoughts and feelings will help them to process what has happened in a safe environment with a trusted adult.

More information

Discussing terrorist attacks with secondary pupils

Although the PSHE Association normally advise that teaching and learning in PSHE education is built into a planned progressive programme, there are times when you may need to respond immediately to unforeseen events, such as terrorist attacks.

Category: Prevent

Audience: KS3, KS4

Developed by: PSHE Association

Duration (minutes): N/A

Keywords:

Terrorist attacks can create a variety of feelings, including curiosity, excitement, anxiety or fear. This discussion framework can be adapted to a range of situations, and provides a framework for young people to discuss such events and process what has happened in the safety of a classroom.

More information

News

18/12/2024: Threat against UK ‘smouldering’, top counter terror officer warns

The UK is facing a “smouldering” terror threat level with children as young as 10 accessing extreme online material, one of the country’s most senior counter-terrorism officers has warned.

BBC News

10/08/2024: Children to be taught how to spot extremist content and fake news online

Education secretary launches review of curriculum in primary and secondary schools in England aimed at teaching critical thinking.

Guardian

When attempting to identify extremist behaviour in a young person we often see many of the same characteristics that we see in other vulnerabilities, but some are specific to extremism.

Speak to us

Speak to your local Prevent Team if you would like to discuss any concerns on:

01392 225130

Please allow this number to ring until the answerphone connects as it calls all of our offices and may not be answered immediately.

Online Safety

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“Online safety refers to the act of staying safe online. It is also commonly known as internet safety, e-safety and cyber safety. It encompasses all technological devices which have access to the internet from PCs and laptops to smartphones and tablets. Being safe online means individuals are protecting themselves and others from online harms and risks which may jeopardise their personal information, lead to unsafe communications or even effect their mental health and wellbeing”.

National Online Safety

Online BullyingWhen a bully uses the internet as a tool to abuse someone, this is known as cyber bullying or online bullying. As a parent, guardian or carer it doesn’t matter if you don’t understand internet technology, you can still help your child if they are being bullied online.

Blame the Bully, not the technology

Bullies cause cyber bullying and the internet and technology are tools that they use to help make that happen. Taking away your child’s access to the internet won’t necessarily solve the problem. That said, your child may wish to stop using social networks or other things for a while and all of that will need to be talked about and agreed by you and your child together.

Consider if and how you will respond to the bully

Bullies want a reaction of any kind so we suggest to children and young people that they don’t respond at all to online bullies but to report them and block them instead, and to talk to someone they can trust about it. You may want to respond to the bully. If that’s the case, do this when you have had time to consider what your want to say calmly and carefully.
You may want to explain to the bully that you’re now aware of what’s been going on, have saved the evidence of the bullying and have/or are going to report them to the website or social network they have been using, their school (if they are a child and you know them), their parents (if you know them) or the police if you think what’s happening is serious enough.

Save the evidence

Save the bullying if possible for evidence. This could include saving text messages or keeping a record of what’s been happening online. If the bullying is happening online but you can’t save it due to the system that’s been used you can use something called ‘print screen’ or ‘screen capture’ to copy information into a document and save that separately as evidence. If you’re not sure how to do this you can search for instructions online.

Use Reporting Facilities

Many social networks allow users to ‘report abuse’ and ‘block’ users. As a parent, guardian or carer you may want to encourage your child to find out (if they don’t already know) how they can report someone online so that they feel confident to do it if they need to. It’s also important for children to understand the need to report people for cyber bullying before they ‘block them’ so that action can be taken.

Get your school involved

If you think your child is being bullied online by someone from their school contact the school. Individual schools will have their own policies on bullying / cyber bullying. Whatever the policy if your child is being bullied by someone from their school or someone they don’t know, they may need support of some kind during school hours.

If the bully is from your child’s school that may need some support too so by making a report, you can help. Although each case is different, generally schools should make it very clear what their approach is to bullying (including online bullying).

The following parental control checklists have been created by the South West Grid for Learning…

Keep talking

Any form of bullying can make a child feel alone. Cyber bullying can happen day and night, on school days and weekends. This can be not only upsetting but really tiring. Keep talking with your child to reassure them and let them know that they are not to blame.

When to contact the police

If you think that the level of bullying is serious and that your child is at risk of harm telephone Devon and Cornwall Police on 101 and ask to speak with your local Police Community Support Officer or Youth Intervention Officer. In an emergency always telephone 999.
Like the offline environment there are laws in the UK that apply online. Although each case is different, cyber bullies shouldn’t be surprised to receive a visit from the police if what they have been doing has resulted in a criminal offence. You can find out more about the law at GOV.UK.

Gaming onlineMany gaming devices now mean that children and young people can play online against people they know and people they don’t know (which can include adults). As well as just playing games together people can also interact in other ways. It’s important to make sure that games are suitable for their age and that children understand how they can stay safer.

Online gaming things to think about

  • Does my child’s gaming device have parental controls that I can use?
  • Who is my child interacting with? Are they adults or children?
  • If my child is playing games online with strangers, what types of things can we both do to help make that experience safer?
  • What type of language are people using in the games and is it appropriate for my child?
  • Does my child understand the risks of sharing personal information (e.g. name, email address, phone number) when gaming?
  • Does my child know what to do if they are being bullied by another player?
  • Does my child know what to do if another player does something to make them feel uncomfortable or frightened?
  • What type of content is my child viewing?

Online gaming things to talk about

If you don’t play online games you might not be sure how to talk about gaming with your child but there are some things you can ask them like:

  • What type of games do you like most? (for example Action, Fantasy, Adventure, Fighting, Racing etc).
  • Can you choose the type of character you play in the game?
  • What are the characters like?
  • What types of things can you do in the game?
  • What types of people can you meet in the game?
  • What types of things do people like to talk about?
  • If someone is being a bully or making you feel uncomfortable, how can you report them in the game?
  • Can I have a game with you? (Having a go on the game is a pretty good way to learn, you might have fun but you should probably expect to lose!).

How old?

The PEGI system gives age ratings to products to help adults decide if a game is suitable for their child. As well as age ratings, products feature ‘descriptors’ which show why a product has received a certain age rating. For example this might be because it contains violence (including sexual violence), discrimination, depictions of alcohol and drugs, or bad language.

Support

The following links provide safety support and guidance for their respective consoles and devices.

Parental ControlsParental controls are tools that can be used to filter, control and monitor internet activity. Parental controls are one tool that can be used and having them doesn’t mean that regular chats around online activity shouldn’t take place.

Parental controls won’t protect children from issues like cyber bullying, losing control over pictures/videos that they’ve shared or getting a bad online reputation.

Parental controls can be put on televisions, computers, gaming devices and mobile devices like tablets and phones. If you’re not sure how to use (or if you even have) parental controls, contact your service provider and ask them. Not all parental controls are free of charge so you may want to check that out.

Activating parental controls

Internet Matters.org has produced guides to setting up parental controls across a number of platforms. You can find out more by clicking the image.

Internet Matters website

The following parental control checklists have been created by the South West Grid for Learning…

We’ve been surfing the web to look at a number of websites for companies that provide internet services and find their ‘parental control’ pages. If you’re with one of the following service providers, please visit their website to find out what service is available to you.

Sending nudes (Sexting)Sending nudes, or sexting are the words used to describe the sharing of personal sexual content electronically (Youth Produced Sexual Imagery). The word is a combination of ‘sex’ and ‘texting’.

Why do people sext?

Sexting is usually deliberate (i.e. people choose to do it) and is often when someone takes an intimate or sexually explicit image of themselves and sends it to another person (for example a boyfriend or girlfriend). Although it’s completely natural for young people to want to explore their own sexual identity and their relationships, sexting can be really risky and have very serious consequences.

Sexting and the law

If anyone under the age of 18 is sexting (i.e. sending indecent images of themselves), they’re also breaking the law. You can find out more about sexting and the law on the Think You Know website but in brief it’s a criminal offence to:

  • TAKE an indecent image of someone under the age of 18 (which includes someone taking an image of themselves).
  • MAKE an indecent image of someone under 18 (i.e. copy it or save it to another device).
  • SEND an indecent image of someone 18 to another person.
  • ASK someone under 18 to take an indecent image of themselves.
  • HAVE an indecent image of someone under 18.

As a parent a good thing to remember about the law is that it is there to protect young people from harm and from being exploited and it’s not designed to punish them for making genuine mistakes.That said, every case is different and is always dealt with based on the circumstances and facts involved.

Talking with your child about sexting

Talking about sex isn’t always easy. Like lots of things though it’s better to talk about a subject before anything happens.Many children and young people don’t fully understand the laws about sexting or some of the consequences.

The Childline website has some great information for children and young people about sexting but it’s a good read for parents too.

Visit website

‘So you got naked online…’ is a resource that helps and advises young people who may find themselves in a situation where they (or a friend) have put a sexting image or video online and have lost control over that content and who it’s being shared with.

Visit website

The NSPCC website has useful information for parents and guidance for addressing the subject with young people.

Visit website

Online sexual chat

If someone is making your child feel uncomfortable about sex you can report them to CEOP. This might be someone:

  • chatting online with your child about sex
  • asking your child to do sexual things on a webcam
  • asking your child to send sexual images of themselves
  • trying to get your child to meet up with them offline

If this is happening make a report to CEOP. You can also contact Devon and Cornwall Police on telephone 101 (non emergency calls) or 999 (emergency calls only).

What is CEOP?

CEOP is the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Team within the National Crime Agency. They exist to help children and young people who are being approached online about sex or being sexually abused.

Visit website

Sharing nudes and semi-nudes: advice for education settings working with children and young people

Published in March 2024, this document provides schools with useful information on dealing with incidents.

View publications

Social NetworksSocial networks are ways of bringing people together using technology to informally (‘socially’) communicate (‘network’). There are loads of social networks out there and you should be a certain age to use some of them.

Lots of social networks have privacy settings which are tools that you can use to help control who sees the information that you share online. Most social networks also have ‘report abuse’ and ‘block’ tools to help you take control of how others behave towards you.

Any information you share online like photos, videos or comments can stay online for a very long time. When you share something online other people can copy it which means that they then have control of it. This means that even if you delete something you’ve shared, someone else might have it.

Reporting and blocking

If you’re using social networks find out how you can report and block people. If someone is doing or saying something that you don’t like or if they’re making you feel scared or uncomfortable, it’s up to you what you do depending on how you feel, but you can report them online, save the evidence, block them and tell an adult you trust.

Remember that you can choose your online and offline friends. If you don’t want to be friends with someone online anymore, remove them from your social networks.

Online friends

Offline the world is filled with a whole range of people some of them nice, some of them mean, some of them just plain dangerous. Online it’s just the same so it’s smart to be careful when choosing your online friends.

Keeping secrets can be fun but some secrets can be dangerous. If a stranger or a friend you have only met online asks you to keep a secret then you need to tell an adult you trust straight away because they might not be who they say they are. People who respect you will never ask you to keep secrets from other people who are close to you like your friends and family.

Sharing information

Technology means that the things we share online can be seen by lots of people. Information can also be shared really quickly. It’s always smart to think before you post. Ask yourself what could happen if other people like your family or your teachers saw what you were sharing online.

General things to think about for you and your family

Use the tools available to keep your family and your devices safer

Set up parental controls. Some systems have them built in and are free, others you can pay for. You may want to look at several options and decide what’s best for your family.
Keep your technology (including phones) up to date with security software.
Use strong passwords that include letters, numbers and symbols and use different passwords for different accounts.
If you’re using social networks, check out the privacy settings and make sure they are activated.
Report online abuse.

Be careful of what you share online

Read the terms and conditions for social networks. There might be a lot there to read but you could be agreeing to hand over control of your online content if you don’t.
Never share personal information like phone numbers or email addresses online.
Be cautious about the type of information you might be sharing with people you only know online.
Be careful about the types of images you post and share as once they are out there you’ve pretty much lost control of that content.
Use webcams carefully. If you’re talking with people you know and trust offline you may be confident, but remember that webcam ‘conversations’ can always be recorded.

Create a great online reputation

Our children learn things from us so how we as adults behave online affects how our children behave. In terms of your own online reputation, nearly all of the advice for children is relevant for adults.

Search for yourself and members of your family online. This will help you manage what information is available about you in the public domain.
Treat others online as you would like to be treated.
Delete old accounts that you’re no longer using.
Be careful what you share.
Know who you’re sharing information with.
Understand that whatever you share online you might lose control of.
Always report abuse.

Staying safer in social networks

  • Use privacy settings – they’re there to protect you not restrict you. A guide to setting your privacy settings has been published by ParentInfo
  • Some websites ask you to use your real name but you may be able to choose a username too. Use a nickname if you can.
  • Avoid using a picture of yourself for your profile – use a picture of something you like instead.
  • Don’t include personal details in your profile, like your phone number, your email address or home address.
  • Read the small print. For lots of social networks you have to sign up certain things, and some of those things could include rights to share what you’re posting online. Know what you’re signing up for.
  • Don’t accept friend requests from people you don’t know offline. If you are going to accept them, be very careful about what information you share with them.
  • Find out how you can report people on the websites you’re using.
  • Block someone if they are being mean or sending you things you don’t like.
  • Only ever speak with someone on a webcam if you know and trust them offline.
  • Remember that what someone does on a webcam can be recorded.
  • Say no to things you don’t want to do. If you don’t want to go on a webcam you don’t have to. If someone is cool they’ll respect that.
  • Listen to yourself. If a person or situation online doesn’t feel right trust your instincts and speak to someone offline who you trust for advice and help.
  • To find out more about staying safe in social networks check out Think You Know and Childline.

General family online safety advice
For general online safety advice we recommend a trip to Get Safe Online.

Parental control checklists  (created by the South West Grid for Learning)

Social Network Support/Help sections

Elearning

Childhood in the digital ageOnline safety awareness

Provider: Open Learn

published: Free

Are you a technology optimist or a technology pessimist? The amount of technology available to children today is greater than in any previous generation, and it is more specifically designed to capture their imaginations. There is heated debate as to how the digital influx is shaping children’s development and experience.

More information

Online safety trainingE-safety training to help you keep children and young people safe online

Provider: NSPCC

published: £35.00

Do you know your Fortnite from your Snapchat? Do you know the role online technologies play in children and young people’s lives and the risks they might face? The online world brings many positives and possibilities, but it’s also full of risks – and it’s constantly changing. Developed by the NSPCC in association with NCA-CEOP, the child protection unit of the National Crime Agency, this elearning course will help you to understand what children and young people do online, why they take risks and how to respond to these risks so you can feel confident in protecting the children you work with.

More information

Sharing nudes and semi-nudes trainingOnline course to help professionals respond to incidents of nude image sharing or sexting

Provider: NSPCC

published: £25.00

This course explores these motivations as well as issues around consent, gender, additional needs and age variations. It looks at the risks involved and what steps you need to take to respond appropriately. It also covers how to recognise when sharing imagery is harmful sexual behaviour and how you can safeguard the young people involved.

More information

Podcasts

How do we protect teenagers from sextortion scams?Awareness and guidance

Browser: Link

Apple Podcasts: Link

Google Play: Link

Spotify: Link

Murray Dowey, a 16-year-old from Dunblane, was targeted by a sextortion scammer in the hours before he took his own life. Now his parents are raising awareness of this increasingly prevalent crime. Libby Brooks reports.

How Facebook and Instagram became marketplaces for child sex trafficking – podcastSocial Media awareness

Browser: Link

Apple Podcasts: Link

Google Play: Link

Spotify: Link

Our two-year investigation suggests that the tech giant Meta is struggling to prevent criminals from using its platforms to buy and sell children for sex

IWF | How online predators use privacy apps (In conversation with…)Guidance and advice

Browser: Link

Apple Podcasts: Link

Google Play: Link

Spotify: Link

In Conversation With Tegan Insoll, Head of Research at Suojellaan Lapsia, and Dan Sexton, Chief Technology Officer at the IWF. New research shows online offenders are choosing end-to-end encrypted messaging apps to contact children and to spread child sexual abuse material amid renewed calls for Meta to rethink its planned roll out of end-to-end encryption on Facebook Messsenger.

Life OnlineOfcom is launching an important new initiative to help improve online safety among communities most at risk of online harm.

Browser:

Apple Podcasts: Link

Google Play: Link

Spotify: Link

Media literacy is crucial in helping to build a safer life online. It empowers us to become informed digital decision-makers and, importantly, to identify and protect ourselves and others against harmful content. It’s also our ticket to fully participating in society, at a time when keeping connected with the world, services and people around us has never been more important.

Nowhere to Hide?Discussing the spread of child sexual abuse material online

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The podcast, titled Nowhere to Hide? is part of the IWF’s In Conversation With series exploring the technological and political issues surrounding the global spread of child sexual abuse material.

Online misogyny: what impact is it having on children?Discussing the increase in misogynist behaviour

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According to new research by the children’s commissioner for England, one in 10 children have watched pornography by the time they are nine years old. And teachers say the effects are being felt in schools. So what makes young people vulnerable to this kind of content, and what impact might it have on their brains and behaviour?

Online safety - a young person’s perspective (28 Feb 2025)Learn what young people think about the online world, including content moderation, misinformation and Generative AI

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In this podcast episode, you’ll hear from Will and Zara, two young people from the NSPCC’s Voice of Online Youth group. They provide an insight into what life online is like for them, what makes them feel safe online and what online safety topics they’d like to learn more about.

Online safety in a SEND setting ft. Nicola HollandFor SEND teachers

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We hear from Nicola — an Assistant Head teacher working in an all-through complex needs school — about her experiences of supporting students to navigate their online lives.

Pornography and Young PeopleA New Interface Podcast Episode with Professor Andy Phippen

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Throughout the podcast, it was highlighted that the topic of pornography is considered to be an important conversation for young people to have. The presenters discuss the difficulty of addressing pornography with young people, and the ways to address the subject in an appropriate setting that encourages healthy conversation.

Put it down! Should children be allowed smartphones?Children's access to smart phones

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Almost all children have them by the time they are 11 years old – and some get them at four. But are they ruining childhoods? Blake Montgomery reports

SafetoNet Foundation Safeguarding PodcastOnline Safeguarding

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The SafeToNet Foundation’s Safeguarding podcasts focusses on safeguarding children in the online digital context. We cover the technical, legal and cultural aspects of topics such as cyber-abuse, cyberbullying, sexting, sextortion, digital wellbeing and how to keep children safer online.

Young people, online wellbeing, and developing healthier habits InterfaceOnline Wellbeing

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SWGFL have just released their latest podcast episode for Interface which discusses the online wellbeing of young people and how they can develop healthier relationships with technology. This episode they are joined by guest speaker Catherine Knibbs, UKCP accredited psychotherapist and cyber trauma expert, who speaks with Jess McBeath and young podcast presenter Ailish Hunter around the subject.

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Websites

Band RunnerFun runner-style game for 8-10 year olds on the CEOP Education website.

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The game features some familiar faces: Sam, Alfie and Ellie from the Play Like Share animations are continuing their adventures and helping children to build their knowledge, confidence and skills to stay safe from sexual abuse and other risks they might encounter online.

BBC Own ItOnline Safety information targeted for children and young people

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BBC’s own it is a place to find help, support and advice on how to life your best online life. From being safe and kind online, to dealing with bullies, scams and trolls. The Basics covers different parts of the online world, whether that’s social media, gaming, vlogging or getting to know your device.

Be Internet Legends (Google)Online Safety guidance and resources

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Helping children be safe and confident explorers of the online world, To make the most of the internet, children need to make smart decisions. Be Internet Legends empowers younger children to use the web safely and wisely, so they can be confident explorers of the online world.

CEOP EducationResources and support for children, parents and professionals

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The National Crime Agency’s CEOP Education team aim to help protect children and young people from online child sexual abuse. They do this through their education programme, providing training, resources and information to professionals working with children, young people and their families.
(Formerly ThinkUKnow)

CEOP Support centreOnline Safeguarding reporting tool

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Are you worried about online sexual abuse or the way someone has been communicating with you online? Make a report to one of CEOP’s Child Protection Advisors

ChildlineOnline and telephone support helpline

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Phone: 0800 1111

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Childline is here to help anyone under 19 in the UK with any issue they’re going through. You can talk about anything. Whether it’s something big or small, our trained counsellors are here to support you. Childline is free, confidential and available any time, day or night. Get help and advice about a wide range of issues, call us on 0800 1111, talk to a counsellor online, send Childline an email or post on the message boards.

ChildnetClassroom resources and guidance for parents/carers

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Childnet International is a non-profit organisation working with others to help make the internet a great and safe place for children.

Fully HumanFully Human is the research and development arm of the PSHE Association.

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Fully Human is the research and development arm of the PSHE Association. It’s our place to think, stretch out and join the dots between this fast changing world and what might best support children and young people to navigate it.

Internet MattersSupporting families stay safe online

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Get expert support and practical tips to help children benefit from connected technology and the internet safely and smartly. Find information and safety settings for your child’s devices and apps, along with guidance to tackle online issues they may face.

Internet Matters: Teens’ online dating and relationshipsHelp teens stay safe as they interact with others online

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Get expert advice and guidance across a range of subjects about online dating and relationships

IWF: Make sure your home doesn’t have an open door to child Sexual abusersGuidance for parents and carers

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Increasingly, young people are being contacted in their own homes on online platforms and apps and asked for sexual pictures and videos, while their parents and carers are totally unaware. From the Internet Watch Foundation, this provides information and a downloadable resource to encourage conversation and keep young people safe.

ParentzoneTargeted online safety guidance for parents and carers

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Parentzone: To improve outcomes for children in an increasingly digital world. To test assumptions and stereotypes around digital family life. To understand what parents and families need – and provide support when it’s most needed.

Professionals Online Safety HelplineSupporting professionals working with children and young people, with any online safety issue they may be having

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Phone: 03443814772

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The helpline is available to anyone working with children and young people dealing with any online safety issues. We mostly hear from schools but we support all sorts of people and organisations such as; police, social care, sports clubs, churches, mosques and other places of worship, further education settings, small charities, soft play spaces, and more.

Report Remove (NSPCC)Content removal tool

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Report Remove is here to help young people under 18 in the UK to confidentially report sexual images and videos of themselves and remove them from the internet.

SextortionAdvice for professionals, young people, parents and carers

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In response to the growing concern around the rise of sextortion cases seen from the three UK Safer Internet Centre partners, this page is there to offer support and guidance for how to respond to incidents and concerns. This page is primarily for young people who have been affected but if you are an adult concerned about sextortion, you can find advice from the Revenge Porn Helpline.

SWGFL: Online Safety and GamingAdvice with downloadable resource

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From socialising online to in-game purchases to the future of interaction, find out everything you need to know about online safety in gaming.

SWGFL: Online Safety and Social MediaGuidance with downloadable resource

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Social media offers a connective power unlike any other. Although we may all be very familiar with liking, sharing, hashtagging and streaming, social media has taken the world by storm in quite a short space of time. As one of the most accessible and available platforms to connect with others, many young people will start their social media journeys from quite a young age. Throughout this hub we’ll guide you on everything you need to know about social media and how you can raise awareness around online safety.

SWGFL: Sexting GuidanceGuidance for professionals working with young people

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Sexting continues to be a concern that many educational establishments reach out to the Helpline about for support. Cases involving sexting are often multifaceted and complex, and every school will have different safeguarding policies to help address a sexting incident.

The Dark Web ExplainedFor parents/carers

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The Dark Web Explained has been created by the National Crime Agency in collaboration with The Children’s Society and Marie Collins Foundation. This resource has been developed in response to recommendations from professionals and from research which found that many professionals, parents and carers do not understand the Dark Web and feel unequipped to talk to a young person about it should the need arise.

The MixThe UK’s leading support service for young people

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The Mix is the UK’s leading support service for young people. We are here to help you take on any challenge you’re facing – from mental health to money, from homelessness to finding a job, from break-ups to drugs. Talk to us via our online community, on social, through our free, confidential helpline or our counselling service.

Think Before you ShareAims to help open a dialogue between parents and teens amid warnings the sharing of nudes

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The campaign, aims to help open a dialogue between parents and teens amid warnings the sharing and soliciting of nudes is becoming “normalised” among young people. Called ‘Think before you share’, it also warns young people about the pitfalls of sharing their own and others’ explicit images.

Documents

Generative Artificial IntelligenceChild safety risks highlighted around Gen AI include sexual grooming, sexual extortion and exposure to harmful content.

Author: NSPCC

Published: 28-01-2025

NSPCC Learning has published new research on Generative (Gen) Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its impact on children’s safety and wellbeing. Child safety risks highlighted around Gen AI include sexual grooming, sexual extortion and exposure to harmful content.

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X (Formally Twitter) ChecklistInformation on how to keep your X profile under your control

Author: SWGFL

Published: 04-12-2024

Whether you’re new to X or an experienced user, managing your profile can sometimes feel overwhelming. The X Checklist simplifies this process by addressing the most common questions people have about their profiles. Available to download or order online.

More information

‘So You Got Naked Online’ ReleasedNew Version

Author: SWGFL

Published: 29-11-2024

The way young people communicate online is constantly evolving and it is essential that young people are provided with up-to-date advice and support. With the latest online safety concerns in mind, SWGfL has released a new version of So You Got Naked Online, to provide children, guardians and teachers with essential advice on what to do if a young person (or a friend) has put a sexting image or video online and have lost control over that content and who it’s being shared with. Available to download or order online. SEND version also available.

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Online safety: government prioritiesIts work to implement the Online Safety Act.

Author: Gov.UK

Published: 20-11-2024

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has announced new online safety priorities for Ofcom as it continues its work to implement the Online Safety Act. Ofcom will have to report back to the Secretary of State on what action it has taken against the priorities. The draft Statement of strategic priorities for online safety focuses on five key areas: implementing safety by design; increasing transparency and accountability of online platforms; maintaining regulatory agility to keep pace with changing technology and behaviour; building an inclusive and resilient online society of well-informed users; and supporting continued innovation in safety technologies. The Government has also announced plans for a new research project looking at the effects of smartphones and social media on children to help build the evidence base around online harms.

Web

Insights on responses to children experiencing online harm and abuseOnline Harms

Author: NSPCC

Published: 16-08-2024

This briefing uses insights from Childline counselling sessions and NSPCC Helpline contacts to share the types of responses children receive after they have told someone about their experiences of online harm or abuse.

PDF

Insights and Trends: Analysis of Report Harmful Content 2023Summary for Harmful Content 2023 report

Author: SWGFL

Published: 28-03-2024

Report Harmful Content is a national alternative dispute resolution service provided by the UK Safer Internet Centre and operated by SWGfL, empowering anyone over the age of 13 and living in the UK to report harmful content online.

Report

Insights and Trends: Analysis of Report Harmful Content2023 Update

Author: SWGFL

Published: 28-03-2024

Report Harmful Content is a national alternative dispute resolution service provided by the UK Safer Internet Centre and operated by SWGfL, empowering anyone over the age of 13 and living in the UK to report harmful content online.

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Understanding Pathways to Online Violent Content Among ChildrenExplores the pathways through which children encounter violent content online

Author: Ofcom

Published: 14-03-2024

This research explores the pathways through which children encounter violent content online, the impact this can have, and perceptions and use of safety measures. It also provides an overview of children’s description of what violent content looks like, which they said was an ‘unavoidable’ part of being online. Content warning: This report contains mention of potentially distressing themes regarding children’s experiences with violent content, including sexual violence. The report contains generalised descriptions of specific pieces of violent content, but detailed descriptions have been omitted.

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Sharing nudes and semi-nudes: advice for education settings working with children and young peopleGuidance on responding to incidents and safeguarding children and young people

Author: Gov.UK

Published: 11-03-2024

This non-statutory advice aims to support designated safeguarding leads (or equivalents) and senior leadership teams in education settings in England in responding effectively to incidents involving the sharing of nudes and semi-nudes.

Summary (PDF) Full document (PDF)

Making sure your home doesn’t have an open door to child Sexual abusersGuidance for parents and carers

Author: Internet Watch Foundation (IWF)

Published: 25-01-2024

Young people are being contacted in their own homes on online platforms and apps and asked for sexual pictures and videos, while their parents and carers believe they are safe. More and more sexual abuse material is created by offenders who coerce and groom children into sexual activities, often in children’s own bedrooms and bathrooms. They then record this via webcams or livestreaming services. It’s known as ‘self -generated’ child sexual abuse imagery. This is happening now, and it can happen to anyone. But you can do something about it; you can help prevent it happening to your child. If you’re asking yourself what and how, this guidance will help you.

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Learning Disabilities, Autism and Internet SafetyA guide for parents

Author: Cerebra

Published: 25-01-2024

All parents understand the importance of Internet safety. Our guide outlines some suggestions to help you limit the risk of your child having negative experiences online and understand what action can be taken if they do. This guide also suggests resources that will help your child get the most out of the Internet.

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Talk Trust Empower: Child Sexual Abuse Research ReportResearch Report

Author: IWF/University of Southampton

Published: 11-01-2024

In 2021, the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) ran a public awareness campaign with the aim of building public resilience to the threat of self-generated indecent imagery of children. As part of the monitoring and evaluation of the campaign, three surveys were conducted on the issue: one before the launch of the campaign, one following the first six weeks of campaign activity and one at the end of a further six weeks’ activity. The purpose of the secondary analysis was to produce insights into both parents’ and children’s awareness, understanding and behaviour in relation to self-generated indecent imagery.

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Research on harmful sexual behaviour in online contextsKey messages

Author: Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual abuse

Published: 01-11-2023

“Our ‘Key messages from research’ papers aim to provide succinct, relevant information for frontline practitioners and commissioners. They bring together the most up-to-date research into an accessible overview, supporting confident provision of the best possible responses to child sexual abuse. This paper focused on children and young people who display harmful sexual behaviours in online contexts.”

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Managing risk and trauma after online sexual offendingA whole-family safeguarding guide

Author: Centre or Expertise on Child Secual abuse

Published: 01-05-2023

This resource is for social work practitioners and managers. It has been designed to aid their thinking and decision-making when assessing and supporting a family where a parent is under police investigation for accessing child sexual abuse material. It provides social workers with the information they need to safeguard and support the whole family at a time of great emotional distress.

PDF

YJLC: Legal guides #12 SextingYouth Justice guide

Author: Youth Justice legal Centre

Published: 01-01-2023

This guide will provide an overview of ‘sexting’ and will explain how to defend a child who has an allegation of sexting made against them.

PDF

Classroom Resources

#LiveSkills

#LiveSkills is a package of resources for 8-18 year olds focusing on live streaming, one of the most popular online activities for children and young people.

Category: Online Safety

Audience: KS2

Developed by: CEOP

Duration (minutes): 20-30 x3

Keywords: live streaming, confidence, self-esteem, negative attention, abuse

It explores the features of live streaming and the specific risks children and young people can face, including:
Three 20 minute activities for 8-11 year olds on building confidence and self-esteem in children, and knowing who to trust online
Three 20 minute activities for 8-11 year olds exploring positive and negative attention
A live streaming case study for young people aged 13+ looking at an example of online sexual abuse of a young person via live streaming
Article for young people aged 11-18 focusing on identifying and responding safely to pressure online
A 30 minute presentation for parents/carers explaining live streaming, the risks for young people and tips to support their child to stay safe. This can also be adapted to deliver to professionals

More information

CEOP Talks Relationships

CEOP Talks Relationships is a 6 week campaign helping teachers to educate and support young people in building healthy relationships.

Category: Healthy Relationships, Online Safety

Audience: KS3

Developed by: CEOP

Duration (minutes): 60 x 6

Keywords: Rights, healthy relationships, Nudes (Sexting), law, consent

Week 1 – Starting new relationships
Week 2 – Rights in relationships
Week 3 – Healthy sexual experiences
Week 4 – Sharing nudes and semi-nudes
Week 5 – The internet’s impact on relationships
Week 6 – Creating positive attitudes and cultures
It will also signpost you to a range of our free resources that you can use with young people, parents and carers, and colleagues, that will help to promote healthy relationships and tackle online sexual harassment, online sexual abuse and non-consensual nude image sharing amongst secondary aged young people.

More information

CyberFirst Navigators

Developed in collaboration with the National Cyber Security Centre, this pack supports an interactive video resource to develop students’ key knowledge, skills and behaviours — to help them navigate the risks of online life.

Category: Cyber Crime, Online Safety

Audience: KS3

Developed by: National Cyber Security Centre/PSHE Association

Duration (minutes):

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There are 3 new lessons available in total, covering:
Lesson 1 – Cyber security and the implications/threats
Students will learn about the risks to personal information online, and how to protect personal information
Lesson 2 – Managing devices and accounts
Students will learn how to keep accounts and devices safe, and what to do if security is breached
Lesson 3 – Identifying scams and sources of support
Students will learn how to identify signs of online scams, where to report cyber security incidents and what happens when reporting

More information

Digital Resilience

A lesson plan to help young people aged 11-14 manage their online lives and build their digital resilience.

Category: Online Safety

Audience: KS3

Developed by: Childnet

Duration (minutes): 45-60

Keywords: resilience, experiences, strategies

Digital resilience is a key skill that we want young people to develop. Whilst going online can be incredibly fun and enjoyable there can also be times when a young person can feel upset, not good enough or left out.
These are the occasions when young people will need strategies to help themselves and also to help their friends if they are having a difficult time online.
This lesson aims to look at the positive and negative experiences young people have online, consider the impact they may have and devise ways to build digital resilience.

More information

Exploited

Understanding healthy and mutually respectful relationships

Category: Exploitation, Healthy Relationships, Online Safety

Audience: KS3, KS4

Developed by: CEOP/NCA

Duration (minutes): 3 x 60

Keywords:

The Exploited film and accompanying lessons aim to help young people understand healthy and mutually respectful relationships; including what healthy and unhealthy features look like in both online and offline contexts and how to report concerns of abuse.

More information

Jessie & Friends

Jessie & Friends is a three-episode animated series which aims to equip 4-7 year olds with the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to help them stay safe from sexual abuse and other risks they may encounter online.

Category: Online Safety

Audience: KS1

Developed by: CEOP

Duration (minutes): 20-30 x3

Keywords: abuse, online behaviour, safety, rights, sharing

Jessie & Friends follows the adventures of Jessie, Tia and Mo as they begin to navigate the online world. They learn that while the internet can be an exciting place where they can learn and have fun, sometimes they may encounter things online which make them feel worried, scared or sad.
The films are accompanied by a comprehensive resource pack for professionals, with session plans for each episode and guidance on safe and effective delivery. Also available are subtitled versions of the animations, storybooks, and posters for parents/carers and children.
(CEOP membership required)

More information

Making the right #CyberChoices

A free lesson pack to help upper KS2 pupils make safe cyber choices and prevent them from unknowingly committing cybercrime, as defined under the Computer Misuse Act 1990.

Category: Crime and ASB, Cyber Crime, Online Safety

Audience: KS2

Developed by: NCA/PSHE Association

Duration (minutes): 2 x 30

Keywords:

Making the right #CyberChoices features a series of fictional characters and real-life, age-appropriate scenarios to encourage pupils to think about why young people commit cybercrime, and the potential consequences — for themselves and others. There are also opportunities for pupils to consider how the same skills being used to commit cybercrime could be used in a more positive way.

More information

Myth vs Reality: PSHE toolkit

Online pornography, healthy relationships and body image

Category: Healthy Relationships, Online Safety

Audience: KS3

Developed by: Childnet

Duration (minutes): 3 x 45

Keywords: body image, healthy, pornography

With Relationship and Sex Education (RSE) becoming statutory in all schools from September 2020, schools need practical, thoughtful and helpful resources to help them teach RSE. Myth vs Reality, our new PSHE Toolkit for 11-14s explores the topics of online pornography, healthy relationships and body image. This toolkit is an extension of our hugely successful practical PSHE toolkit ‘Crossing the Line,’ which aims to generate discussions amongst young people aged 11-14 about their experiences online.

More information

STAR SEND Toolkit

An online safety teaching toolkit for educators to deliver with young people aged 11-16 with special educational needs and disabilities.

Category: Bullying, Online Safety

Audience: SEND

Developed by: Childnet

Duration (minutes): 60+

Keywords: Safe, Trust, Action, Respect, Friendship, Cyberbullying

An extensive teaching toolkit to equip, enable and empower educators with the relevant knowledge they need to support young people with special educational needs and disability (SEND).

More information

Trust Me

Focuses on inaccurate and pervasive information online and opens up discussions to develop critical thinking skills.

Category: Online Safety

Audience: KS2, KS3

Developed by: Childnet

Duration (minutes): 60

Keywords: Grooming, Online reliability

This resources aims to educate young people on inaccurate and pervasive information that they might come across online. Developed in partnership with the London Grid for Learning (LGfL) Safeguarding Board, the resource contains lesson plans for both primary and secondary level that discuss how to think critically around the areas of content, contact, and propaganda material that may seek to persuade or change young people’s views.

More information

News

10/03/2025: Surge in use of ‘game-changing’ Report Remove service

Child protection analysts have seen a significant rise in reports from children accessing the world-leading Report Remove service run by the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) and the NSPCC’s Childline service.

Internet Watch Foundation

09/03/2025: Children in UK as young as 11 targeted by sextortion criminals, data reveals

Internet Watch Foundation says ‘worrying’ trend shows criminals are casting their nets wider to trap victims.

Guardian

09/03/2025: Our teenage son was targeted by a sextortionist online – here’s what we did

Help is available for children tricked into sending intimate images, but regular conversations about internet safety are ‘part of parenting now’.

Guardian

07/03/2025: Plan to make phone use safer for teens watered down

A bill that had suggested banning smartphones in schools and addictive algorithms aimed at young teenagers has been watered down to gain government support.

BBC News

05/03/2025: I wish my job didn’t exist – the team that has to find child abuse images

At home she is a loving grandmother who enjoys spending time with her grandkids but at work Mabel has to watch the internet’s most “abhorrent” child sex abuse.

BBC News

03/03/2025: TikTok profiting from sexual livestreams involving children, BBC told

TikTok is profiting from sexual livestreams performed by teens as young as 15, the BBC has been told.

BBC News

03/03/2025: TikTok investigated over use of children’s data

The UK data watchdog has launched what it calls a “major investigation” into TikTok’s use of children’s personal information.

BBC News

27/02/2025: Ban degrading and violent online porn, review proposes

Degrading, violent and misogynistic pornography should be banned, a review of the industry has recommended.

BBC News

27/02/2025: What the Online Safety Act is – and how to keep children safe online

Technology companies will have to take more action to keep children in the UK safe on the internet, following the introduction of the Online Safety Act.

BBC News

27/02/2025: SWGfL Welcomes Pornography Review Recommendations

A comprehensive list of recommendations for strengthening protections on online pornography has been published today and delivered to the Government.

South West Grid for Learning

Exploitation

Avatar for steve53990Steve53990

Child sexual exploitation (CSE) is a type of child sexual abuse. It occurs where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, manipulate or deceive a child or young person under the age of 18 into sexual activity (Department for Education, 2017).

Elearning

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Websites

Barnardo's Exceed ServiceTackling Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) across Cornwall, Devon, Plymouth and Torbay

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Phone: 01752 256339

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Offers support and information for young people aged 8 to 25 across Devon and Cornwall who are experiencing or might experience sexual exploitation. Their service supports children and young people where there are concerns about CSE (Child Sexual Exploitation) in Devon, Cornwall, Plymouth and Torbay. They are independent and we make sure young people get the right support at the earliest opportunity.

County lines and child criminal exploitationEnough is enough.

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Children as young as six are being forced to carry and sell drugs far away from their homes. They are made to skip school, sleep in drug dens, keep secrets from their loved ones. They are treated as criminals when they often feel trapped in a hopeless situation.

Fully HumanFully Human is the research and development arm of the PSHE Association.

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Fully Human is the research and development arm of the PSHE Association. It’s our place to think, stretch out and join the dots between this fast changing world and what might best support children and young people to navigate it.

Protecting children from sexual exploitationWhat is child sexual exploitation?

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Child sexual exploitation (CSE) is a type of child sexual abuse. It occurs where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, manipulate or deceive a child or young person under the age of 18 into sexual activity (Department for Education, 2017; NIdirect, 2021; Scottish Government, 2018; Wales Safeguarding Procedures Project Board, 2020a).

Documents

Generative Artificial IntelligenceChild safety risks highlighted around Gen AI include sexual grooming, sexual extortion and exposure to harmful content.

Author: NSPCC

Published: 28-01-2025

NSPCC Learning has published new research on Generative (Gen) Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its impact on children’s safety and wellbeing. Child safety risks highlighted around Gen AI include sexual grooming, sexual extortion and exposure to harmful content.

PDF

Keeping children safe in education 2024Statutory guidance for schools and colleges

Author: Gov.UK

Published: 02-09-2024

This is statutory guidance from the Department for Education (‘the Department’) issued under Section 175 of the Education Act 2002 (as amended), the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014, the Non-Maintained Special Schools (England) Regulations 2015 and the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 (as amended). Schools and colleges in England must have regard to it when carrying out their duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. For the purposes of this guidance children includes everyone under the age of 18.

PDF

Insights on responses to children experiencing online harm and abuseOnline Harms

Author: NSPCC

Published: 16-08-2024

This briefing uses insights from Childline counselling sessions and NSPCC Helpline contacts to share the types of responses children receive after they have told someone about their experiences of online harm or abuse.

PDF

Exploitation practice guide:A resource to improve legal support for children experiencing exploitation

Author: The Children’s Society

Published: 30-06-2024

This resource is designed to guide legal professionals, primarily defence solicitors, and others working in the criminal justice system to improve support for children and young people who have been exploited or where exploitation may have taken place.

PDF

‘Shattered lives, Stolen Futures’:The Jay Review on Child Criminal Exploitation

Author: Action for Children

Published: 27-03-2024

The facts of criminal exploitation paint a stark picture: tens of thousands of children and young people across the country are controlled and manipulated by criminal gangs, while countless more are at risk. The toll on these young lives is immeasurable, leading to serious physical harm, long-term trauma and criminalisation. Children are paying with their freedom, their childhoods and their lives.

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“I don’t want to go down that road”The harms inflicted on criminally exploited children

Author: Action For Childre

Published:

In March 2024 we published the findings of the Jay Review of Criminally Exploited Children. This is our first piece of follow-up research, which examines the harms caused to exploited children and makes recommendations to ensure that these children can be safeguarded effectively.

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Classroom Resources

Catch On

Catch On is a free educational resource about Child Exploitation aimed at pupils in Years 7 and 8 (aged 11-13), with additional activities for pupils with special educational needs.

Category: Exploitation

Audience: KS3, SEND

Developed by: Catch-22

Duration (minutes): <60

Keywords:

The Catch On resources support the Child Exploitation (CE) Lesson for KS3 with links to curriculum outcomes from the PSHE Association Programme of Study for PSHE Education (Key Stages 1–5). Catch On contains a suite of options for a single lesson or series of lessons exploring the topic of grooming and exploitation. (Parent’s pack also available)

More information

Exploited

Understanding healthy and mutually respectful relationships

Category: Exploitation, Healthy Relationships, Online Safety

Audience: KS3, KS4

Developed by: CEOP/NCA

Duration (minutes): 3 x 60

Keywords:

The Exploited film and accompanying lessons aim to help young people understand healthy and mutually respectful relationships; including what healthy and unhealthy features look like in both online and offline contexts and how to report concerns of abuse.

More information

News

09/03/2025: Children in UK as young as 11 targeted by sextortion criminals, data reveals

Internet Watch Foundation says ‘worrying’ trend shows criminals are casting their nets wider to trap victims.

Guardian

09/03/2025: Our teenage son was targeted by a sextortionist online – here’s what we did

Help is available for children tricked into sending intimate images, but regular conversations about internet safety are ‘part of parenting now’.

Guardian

05/03/2025: I wish my job didn’t exist – the team that has to find child abuse images

At home she is a loving grandmother who enjoys spending time with her grandkids but at work Mabel has to watch the internet’s most “abhorrent” child sex abuse.

BBC News

03/03/2025: TikTok profiting from sexual livestreams involving children, BBC told

TikTok is profiting from sexual livestreams performed by teens as young as 15, the BBC has been told.

BBC News

27/02/2025: SWGfL Welcomes Pornography Review Recommendations

A comprehensive list of recommendations for strengthening protections on online pornography has been published today and delivered to the Government.

South West Grid for Learning

22/02/2025: New laws to protect children exploited by gangs in England and Wales ‘will save lives’

Ex-children’s commissioner welcomes crackdown on use of children for crimes such as running county lines.

Guardian

21/02/2025: ‘Grooming was happening here’: Key witness in Miah brothers sexual abuse trial speaks to Sky News

Barrow has a reputation as a “lying town” because of Eleanor Williams who was convicted of lying about being the victim of an Asian grooming gang. But as three brothers are jailed for preying on underage girls, a witness tells us: “Grooming was happening here and still probably is.”

Sky News

18/02/2025: More than 100 child sexual abuse image crimes being recorded by police every day

“We’re urging the government to ensure children are better protected in private messaging environments.”

NSPCC

14/02/2025: Childline data reveals boys are most vulnerable to ‘sextortion’

“In response, we launched a new Childline campaign encouraging boys to contact the service for help and support.”

NSPCC

09/02/2025: The importance of multi-agency collaboration in protecting children from exploitation

Northamptonshire Children’s Trust is part of a new hub focused on reducing risk outside the home for children and young people.

Community Care

Identifying extremist behaviour in students

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When attempting to identify extremist behaviour in a young person we often see many of the same characteristics that we see in other vulnerabilities, but some are specific to extremism.

Speak to us

Speak to your local Prevent Team if you would like to discuss any concerns on:

01392 225130

Please allow this number to ring until the answerphone connects as it calls all of our offices and may not be answered immediately.

Anti Social Behaviour

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Are you anti-social?

car
Vehicle misuse
houses
Noisy neighbours
paint-spray
Graffiti
beer
Street drinking
garbage
Littering
firecracker
Firework misuse

You are committing anti-social behaviour if you or a group you are with do the following:

  • Cause harassment, alarm or distress to any person of another household
  • Cause a person to feel personally threatened
  • Cause a public nuisance or detrimental impact upon the environment
  • Cause a detrimental effect upon the quality of life of an individual or the community as a whole

Although anti-social behaviour is not a crime, the Police can act to stop the behaviour and keep communities safe by following a 3 step process:

  • Verbal warning
  • Written warning
  • Multi-agency meeting

Not enough?

If you are not able to stop your behaviour, there are a number of options open to the police and their partners.

Informal

  • Mediation
  • Acceptable Behaviour Contract
    This is a voluntary written agreement between a young person, usually aged between 10 and 18, and the local authority and police. The young person agrees not to be involved with certain specified anti-social acts. It is usually for 6 months.
  • Referral to other agencies
  • Support and Counselling Services

Legal

  • Civil Injunction
    Civil Injunctions are used to prevent nuisance and annoyance. It places sanctions on the person to stop their behaviour and to to demand positive actions to address the underlying reasons for their behaviour.
  • Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO)
    These are given at youth court (for under 18s) against the most seriously antisocial individuals.
  • Community Protection Notice (CPN) 16+
    It is aimed at stopping behaviour that is having a negative impact on the local community’s quality of life. It requires behaviour to stop and sometimes to take steps to ensure it is not repeated in the future.
  • Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO)
    Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPO ) are to deal with a particular nuisance in a particular area that is having a detrimental effect on the quality of life for those in the local community. It can prohibit certain things or require specific things to be done.
  • Dispersal Power
    A Dispersal Order means that the Police can ask a group of two or more people to leave the dispersal area if they are doing anything wrong, or if they believe that they may or are likely to cause a nuisance to someone else

PRU Pupils – 6 and excluded

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PRU Pupils – 6 and excluded

In 2018, whilst in their roles as a Headteacher and Deputy Head of an outstanding Pupil Referral Unit in East London, Marie Gentles and Katie L’Aimable featured on the Victoria Derbyshire programme. (20 mins)

#Excluded

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When you exclude a young person from school, you interfere with their right to education. But this is rarely the only human rights violation they face. Excluded pupils are at risk, for example, of being drawn into serious youth violence – as both victims and perpetrators – are overrepresented in the prison system and often have their home life and private life disrupted.

EachOther’s first long-form documentary only features the voices of young people – those who are most affected by exclusion – who share their stories and views on this complex issue.

We also employed affected young people as consultants and researchers on the film. Their voices and solutions, concerns and experiences are at the heart of this work.

We heard from young people who had been temporarily excluded, permanently excluded, indirectly excluded, and those that had never been excluded – often referred to as ‘the other 29’ in a class. We heard from the No Lost Causes campaign group and from young people in Special Referral Units. We spoke to young people in London and in Scotland, including the Scottish Youth Parliament’s education and human rights committees. And we learned from St Roch’s school, which is at the heart of the inclusive, compassionate learning model that has brought about change in Glasgow. (45 mins)