Metro Radio

European Safer Internet Day aims to promote safer and more responsible use of online technology and mobile phones, especially amongst children and young people.

Detective Sergeant Alan Batey of the Computer Crime Unit said: "The internet has become an invaluable resource for people of all ages.

"However, the internet is open to abuse because sometimes there is little accountability and regulation. Therefore, it is important that we are aware of the potential dangers so we can all use the internet safely and responsibly.

"Parents should talk to their children about their use of the internet, and there are also IT solutions available which enable parents to monitor what their children are doing online. If parents are worried in any way, they should contact police."   

Local police forces are working with parents from the area to make the internet a safer place to be.

Northumbria Police offers the following advice for parents on how to make sure their child remains safe when using the internet.

Make sure your child knows that to stay safe they should remember:

• Everyone they meet online is a stranger, even though they might seem like a friend. They should always tell you if they make contact with, or if they are contacted by, anyone on the internet.
• Always use a nickname when logging on, never give out personal details like their full name, home or school address, telephone number, personal email or mobile number.  This information could let someone they meet online contact them
• Accepting emails or opening files from people they don't really know, can get them into trouble as they can contain nasty viruses, nasty messages or links to stuff they don't want to see
• Tell your child to talk to you or another trusted adult they know well and ask for help if they're worried or upset about anything they've seen or been sent online.

Durham police have provided the following safety tips:

• If the computer is in a private room in the house such as a child's bedroom consider moving it into a family area where you can see what is going on and the sites being visited.
• If you do visit a site such as Facebook on a regular basis make sure you change the default security settings so you are not sharing your profile and photos with everyone.
• Children and young people need to understand the risks they may face by disclosing lots of personal information in these online environments.
• It's a good idea to make sure the people on your children's contact lists are known to them in the 'real world'. That way they can be sure of who they are talking to.
• Keep personal information personal and offline where possible - friends in the real world will already have this information.
• Webcam images and clips are classed as personal information and they can be recorded and copied, as well as shared with other people. If your children are using webcams, it's a good idea for them to only use it with people they know in the real world.
• Photos that are posted in online forums such as social networking sites can also be copied and used by strangers elsewhere. Offenders can pose as a child and use photos they have found to hide behind.

Encourage your children to visit www.thinkuknow.co.uk - this is their site and show them how they can report to specialist police officers at the CEOP Centre if they experience inappropriate behaviour online, using the 'Report Abuse' button.