Suffolk PCC urges you to ‘make digital hygiene a habit’

‘Make digital hygiene a habit’ is the message from Tim Passmore, Suffolk’s PCC as he launches a new initiative to encourage young people to keep safe on the internet.

Internationally renowned academic Dr Emma Bond from University Campus Suffolk and Paul Maskell, Suffolk Constabulary’s Cyber Crime Advisor are involved in open sessions in Beccles and Bungay aimed at raising awareness of the risks associated with the internet, and providing advice on how to keep safe.

While primarily intended to help parents to keep their children safer, the sessions are also open to anyone who is concerned about online safety.

Tim Passmore said “While the digital world has brought many benefits, unfortunately this amazing innovation is increasingly being used to commit serious harm. Our young people are in danger of being groomed or bullied online, and they are also being criminalised as a result of sharing explicit images, all of which can seriously affect their health, academic achievements and limit their career prospects.
“Suffolk Constabulary and partners are seeing more cases associated with the online world which I am deeply concerned about. I am very pleased that St Benet’s and St Edmund’s schools are committed to working with parents to raise awareness of the risks. I urge everyone to think ‘digital hygiene’ when they are online.”

Head Teacher Ivan Mulinder, said “I have becoming increasingly concerned about the serious consequences of poor digital hygiene. We want to work with parents to ensure that all of our pupils are aware of the risks associated with the Internet and how they can help to keep themselves safe.
“I am delighted that this is now a key strand of the new OFSTED inspection framework and I am very excited about the opportunity to work with Tim Passmore and Emma Bond on this initiative. We look forward to welcoming parents, teaching professionals and anyone else from the wider community who is concerned about cyber safety.”

The sessions take place on Thursday 15 October at 5.30 pm at St Benet’s Primary School, Ringsfield Road, Beccles NR34 9PQ and Thursday 22 October 2015 at 5.30pm St Edmund’s Primary School, St Mary’s Street, Bungay NR35 1AY. For further details contact St Benet’s on 01502 712012 or St Edmund’s on 01986 892502.