Safer Internet Day 2024

Cleveland Police is raising awareness about how to stay safe online on Safer Internet Day today (Tuesday 6 February 2024).

As part of the Safer Internet Centre’s national day, the force is working to promote the safe, responsible and positive use of digital technology for children and young people.

Sergeant Kevin Carter, from Cleveland Police’s Cyber Crime Unit, said: “We are joining this national day of awareness to encourage children, young people and adults to be even more respectful and aware of bad behaviour when engaging and sharing online.

“The online world is continuing to grow and change all of the time and has an increasing impact on us, in particular social media platforms. Therefore, how to use it safely and positively is extremely important to protect and prevent young people and adults from the potential dangers they may face.

“Everyone has a responsibility to make a difference online. We can all play a part in promoting a positive space by being kind and respectful to others as well as reporting inappropriate or illegal content and behaviour.”

As part of today’s theme, the force is:

• Encouraging children and young people to help create a better internet by being kind and respectful to others, protecting online reputations and seeking out positive opportunities to create, engage and share
• Urging parents and carers to educate children to use technology responsibly, respectfully, safely and positively
• Encouraging people online to create and promote positive content
• Asking people to report inappropriate or illegal content and behaviour

Sergeant Carter added: “While we are raising awareness today, it is part of our daily business, and we have officers and staff visiting schools and colleges to provide a range of advice on how young people and children can protect themselves online and be aware of the dangers.

“Today we are delivering a webinar to parents across the county focusing on how young people interact online through applications, chat forums and gaming. We will also be covering general safety and how to keep youngsters from inadvertently becoming a cyber criminal.

“Through education and taking the right precautions we really can make a better internet, not just today, but every day.”

There are plenty of practical things we can all do online to better protect ourselves. Please click here for advice and tips on how to be more cyber aware.

Safer Internet Day is organised by the joint Insafe/INHOPE network of Safer Internet Centres in Europe with the support of the European Commission. Once a year in February it promotes the safe and positive use of digital technology aimed at children and young people.

If you think you might be a victim of a crime or you might be aware of illegal content and behaviour please contact Cleveland Police on 101.