Dear Colleagues
This E-Bulletin collates information from various sources that is relevant to safeguarding children. I would appreciate it if you could disseminate via your own contacts / e-circulars. If you have any information / news that you would like to share then please do let me know and I will endeavor to include it. There are now over 2000 people on the circulation list. However, if you do not wish to receive further emails, please let me know and I will delete you from the mailing list. I would like to acknowledge the NSPCC information service`s CASPAR as the source for some of the information.
Safer Schools & Young Peoples Partnership Update:
The recruitment window for Police Constable Applications will open from Monday 11th January 2016 and will close at 09:00am Friday 22nd January 2016.
Cheshire Constabulary requires everyone who works for us to share our Values; Service, Professionalism, Integrity, Compassion and Equality & Fairness. In addition to these, the standards required by a police officer have now been laid out nationally in a Code of Ethics
Before deciding to apply to be a Police Officer, please read the code and consider very carefully whether these are standards that you can commit to demonstrating at all times both during and outside working hours. You should also complete the pre-application questionnaire to check your eligibility and suitability for the role of police constable.
E-Safer Officers Programme
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Join the Safer Schools & Young Persons Partnership in ‘Share a heart’
On 9th February 2016 we’re encouraging everyone to play their part and #shareaheart for Safer Internet Day!
We are using the heart, a universal sign for love, to promote respect and kindness online this Safer Internet Day.
To help us spread the love, we want schools, organisations and individuals to take to social media and share their own heart filled messages, images or videos using the hashtag #shareaheart.
How to get involved
Whether it’s a positive message in our specially designed heart signs, a post filled with heart emojis, or something more creative, there are lots of ways you can get involved in the #shareaheart campaign.
Fill our heart with your own message and share it on social media:
We’ve created our own heart sign in grey, red and blue which can be filled with positive comments and shared on Safer Internet Day. Need some ideas about what to put in your heart? We’ve got a few for you…
Positive statements and messages
The internet is for all of us and that’s why we’d love to see our hearts filled with positive and inspiring messages, just like CBBC Friday Download presenters Molly and Harvey have done.
What do you love about the internet?
We want to hear what you love about internet! Whether this is playing games with your friends, learning new things and talking to family all around the world, Safer Internet Day is a chance to share the amazing things the internet has to offer.
How are you playing your part?
Safer Internet Day is a chance for everyone to do something positive to help make the internet a better place.
For example you could send a nice message to a friend, report mean comments or talk to your parts about what you like to do online. Share with us how you plan to play your part by writing your actions in the heart…
Our #shareaheart signs come in grey, red and blue and are available to download now.
Remember though the hearts are to be used on Safer Internet Day on 9th February 2016.
Get creative and make your own heart image, video or message:
Now is the time to get creative and start making your heart messages, images and videos for Safer Internet Day!
We will be sharing lots of ideas over the coming months, so keep an eye here for more inspiration.
When to get involved
#shareaheart will take place on Safer Internet Day - 9th February 2016. Throughout the day we will be encouraging everyone to share their heart messages, images and videos on social media using the hashtag #shareaheart.
We will be sharing our favourites on our social networking sites:
•Twitter: UK_SIC
•Facebook: UK Safer Internet Centre
•Instagram: uk_sic
Let’s spread the love this Safer Internet Day!
Safer Internet Day 2016 : 9th February
The theme Play your part for a better internet!
Coordinated in the UK by the UK Safer Internet Centre the celebration sees hundreds of organisations get involved to help promote the safe, responsible and positive use of digital technology for children and young people. Globally, Safer Internet Day is celebrated in over a hundred countries, coordinated by the joint Insafe/INHOPE network, with the support of the European Commission, and national Safer Internet Centres across Europe. The day offers the opportunity to highlight positive uses of technology and to explore the role we all play in helping to create a better and safer online community. It calls upon young people, parents, carers, teachers, social workers, law enforcement, companies, policymakers, and wider, to join together in helping to create a better internet. Get involved to play your part!
Ideas for getting involved:
•Use the Media Pack which will be sent to your force media teams containing standardised messages (including articles and social media posts) from NCA-CEOP and the National CPAI working group
•Sign up as a Safer Internet Day supporter – register online at
•Promote the day to local schools, children’s services, health services, youth projects, businesses and other organisations to inspire them to get involved
•Promote the day on social media using the hashtag #SID2016 – or even host a Twitter Q&A!
•Contact local press to help raise awareness of the day- share what you are doing
•Improve and promote the e-safety advice on your site (please feel free to link to Share tips and advice on your website, newsletters, social media and any other communication routes you have
•Raise awareness among officers and other staff about online safety issues and how to respond (for example, you could make sure they are aware of key resources like and
Helpful resources
Available at
• Registration for the Supporters List
• Template text and banners
• Education Packs (includes presentation and script for children, teens and parent and carers)
Free Education Packs For Safer Internet Day 2016
We can’t believe it’s only 3 weeks until Safer Internet Day 2016! It's become a truly global event celebrated in countries all around the world. Make sure your school doesn’t miss out by downloading our free Education Packs containing lesson plans, assemblies, posters, video content and much more!
Professionals Online Safety Helpline
0844 381 4772 |
Do you have a cyberbullying or digital safety concern?
The UK Safer Internet Centre has been funded by the European Commission to provide a Helpline for professionals who work with children and young people in the UK, specifically tackling the area of e-safety. The Helpline provide support with all aspects of digital and online issues such as social networking sites, cyber-bullying, sexting, online gaming and child protection online. The Helpline aims to resolve issues professionals face about themselves, such as protecting professional identity and reputation, as well as young people in relation to online safety.
Open Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm. The Helpline can be emailed at any time, and these will be responded to during their normal working hours.
Find out more by visiting the Helpline section of the UK Safer Internet Centres website
Apps, games and sites in the news:
Messaging apps are the new social media - Ofcom reports this year that whilst children are still on Facebook, they prefer the perceived privacy of messaging apps like Whatsapp and Snapchat.
Video trumps text - Lots of apps allow children to share pictures and videos. This is great for sharing with friends, but children may not always know who they are sharing with. Teenagers in groups often use these apps to have fun together, but they can be risky when used alone.
Sky broadband shield - Sky announced in December that it will switch home filters to default to the 'on' position for new customers. The fitering system works on all devices connected to broadband including laptops, tablets, smartphones and games consoles.
Consuming content 'on demand' - OfCom also told us children are now consuming more content from Google and YouTube than traditional TV. However, children tell us places like YouTube are where they're most likely to come across inappropriate content.
YouTube and Vine are the new Hollywood - and its stars are vloggers. Children often know more about them than Hollywood actors, and they can also be broadcasters themselves by using live streaming apps like Periscope, Meerkat, YouNow and Facebook Live.
Minecraft advice to parents
ChildLine YouTube videos
ChildLine has launched a series of self-help videos, that are great to share with older children. New videos uploaded every Wednesday tackle a whole range of issues, from trolling and online bullying to setting realistic goals
Call the free O2 and NSPCC online safety helpline
If you have any questions about your child's online safety or concerns about a social network, our expert advisors are here to help.
Call 0808 800 5002 on Monday-Friday 9am-7pm, weekends 10am-6pm and bank holidays 10am-4pm
Net Aware – Fantastic informative site
If you're worried check Net Aware to find out more about video-chat apps, or call the O2 and NSPCC Online Safety Helpline on 0808 800 5002.
Get Safe On Line
Some great advice from - have a look at their site as they have some fantastic tips , videos , links for all to use
Get Safe Top 10
1.Make sure your computer has up-to-date internet security software, switched on.
2.Don’t reveal personal information on social networking sites.
3.Regularly backup the data on your computer and smartphone/tablet.
4.Never reveal your password or PIN when asked to do so by email or on the phone.
5.Make sure your wireless network is secure at all times.
6.Be careful who you are selling to and buying from on auction sites.
7.Choose strong passwords, change them regularly and don’t tell anybody what they are.
8.When shopping, paying or banking online, always make sure the website is secure.
9.Always download the latest software and operating system updates when prompted.
10.Remember your smartphone is also a target for viruses and spyware.
Sexting: Know the Facts / Resourses to raise Awareness
The National Crime Agency recently reported that child protection officers are investigating an average of one case involving "sexting" every day.
Sexting is defined as images of videos generated
by children under the age of 18;
or of children under the age of 18
that are of a sexual nature or are indecent.
When people talk about sexting, they usually refer to sending and receiving:
naked pictures or 'nudes'
'underwear shots'
sexual or 'dirty pics'
rude text messages or videos.
They can be sent from a friend, boyfriend, girlfriend or someone you've met online. You might have also sent a sexual photo, video or text to someone else.
We understand how easily sexting can happen and how things can go wrong – even when children and young people didn’t mean for them to.
Sexting is a relatively recent phenomenon; however, with the growth of mobile phone ownership among young people (41% of 12-15 year olds have a smartphone) there has been an increase in the number of young people sharing and receiving images.
There was a 28% increase in calls to ChildLine in 2012/13 (compared to the previous year) that mentioned 'sexting' – nearly one every day.
Statistics from the children’s charity Beatbullying suggest the following:
85% knew the identity of the aggressor;
the majority were peers and only 2% indicated that it was an adult
Sexting and the Law
Under British law it is legal to have sex aged 16, but it is illegal and a serious criminal offence to take, hold or share "indecent" photos of anyone aged under 18.
It is a crime to;
take an indecent photograph or allow an indecent photograph to be taken
make an indecent photograph (this includes downloading or opening an image that has been sent via email);
distribute or show such an image
possess with the intention of distributing images
advertise
possess
indecent photographs (including pseudo images) of a person under 18 years of age.
Having sexting photos or videos on your phone or computer
If you are under the age of 18, the law sees you as a child. Therefore, if you have any indecent images or videos of somebody who is under 18 you would technically be in possession of an indecent image of a child – even if you are the same age. This is an offence under the Protection of Children Act 1978 and the Criminal Justice Act 1988.
Sending sexting photos or videos
If you are under 18 and you send, upload or forward indecent images or videos onto friends or boyfriends/girlfriends, this would also be breaking the law, even if they are photos of yourself (“selfies”). Sending a naked image of yourself via text message, or social media, when you’re below the age of 18 is technically illegal. It counts as an offence of distributing an indecent image of a child. These offences are something which a young person could receive a police caution for. They could even end up on the sex offenders register which would result in difficulty getting a job as it would show on a DBS check.
Worst case scenario
In July 2014 a schoolgirl was cautioned for sending a topless selfie to her boyfriend. Sexting could leave children with criminal record.
A teenager who sent a topless selfie to her boyfriend received a police caution.
The schoolgirl was investigated after being deemed to have distributed an indecent image of a child - and her boyfriend, who forwarded the image to friends after they split up, also received a caution.
The case emerged as schoolchildren were warned they could end up with a criminal record if they send explicit pictures of themselves by text message or over social media.
They could end up on the [sex offenders] register for a couple of years. When they come to getting a job this would then count against them.
Education Resources/ Further Information
Students at Burton and South Derbyshire College were asked by Staffordshire Safeguarding Children Board to take part in producing a short film that would raise young people’s awareness of sexting. They were asked to produce a film that would appeal to young people from year 7 to year 11, that would highlight what sexting actually was, the implications of sending indecent images to other people and that it was in fact an illegal practice.
South West Grid for Learning -Template E-Safety Policies
Further information about ‘sexting’ and where you can get help, can be found on the following websites:-
The NSPCC
Childline ChildLine 0800 1111
Youthbox -
ThinkuKnow -
Partners updates
Children's commissioner calls for review of children's services cuts
The Children’s commissioner Anne Longfield, appearing before the education select committee, said it is necessary to gauge the impact of "immense changes" in the sector in recent years. She said that: "There is an urgent need to look at sharing best practice in innovation, but also seriously look at how changing children's services are impacting on children. I think there is a need for a stocktake on children's services and the impact on children."
Children were held overnight in police cells 100 times every week in 2015
Children are being held overnight in police cells 100 times every week, the Evening Standard has reported. Scotland Yard recorded more than 3,000 cases of under-18s behind bars for at least four hours between midnight and 8am over a six-month period.
9% increase of counselling sessions for children
New figures revealed by Childline reveal that there were 35,244 counselling sessions for low self-esteem last year, an increase of 9% on the previous year. Many children report the growing influence of social media has led them to compare themselves with others, feeling inferior, ugly and unpopular as a result.
A quarter of parents struggle to get their children to “unplug”
Action for Children’s latest research has found that nearly a quarter of parents struggle to persuade their children to take part in activities away from televisions, phones and computer screens. It found that: When asked which behaviour they found most difficult to control in their children, more parents said they struggled to limit technology-based activity (23%) than get children to eat healthily (19%), go to bed (18%), or do their homework (10%)
Home Office - 13 Jan 2016 15:10