CHILDREN in Halton will be taught how to use a new virtual police service which will enable them to report perverts.
The UK's dedicated organisation focused on tackling child sex abuse - the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre - has launched a 'have fun, stay in control, know how to report' education campaign that will be going into schools, foster homes and other youth environments across the country.
The programme - called Thinku-Know - will focus on online safety and is the first campaign be designed by an amalgamation of police, child protection specialists, industry and children themselves. It is also the first to use a dedicated online reporting mechanism.
That means children can report any instances of inappropriate on-line contact at http://www.thinkuknow.net.
As a result children of all ages are now just a few clicks away from being able to report instances of inappropriate contact to the CEOP Centre which in turn will investigate, arrest and ultimately bring to account any offenders.
Last month the Weekly News revealed the dark side of internet chat rooms in which girls as young as 13 could be playing into the hands of perverts by posting explicit pictures of themselves on a website.
Every secondary school in Halton is represented on the social networking website Bebo.
The new programme will be delivered in schools by over 1,000 police officers, teachers and child protection teams and will offer an interactive package that will explore online experiences and offer vital 'safety first' advice to children and their parents.
Jim Gamble, chief executive of CEOP, said: 'The internet is now integral to the lives of our children.
'Where children go then the predator will follow and in the same way as we safeguard our playgrounds, our parks, our streets, we must secure the internet.'
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