Keeping children and young people safe online

How to report an online incident and websites with useful online safety tips and guidance.

If a child or young person is in immediate danger, call 999.

The internet can be a great tool for staying connected and as a source of information, advice and support. However, it can pose some risks, particularly for children and young people. These can range from exposure to inappropriate material, to scams involving in-app purchases, cyberbullying by friends, trolling by strangers and online grooming.

Digital safety websites

For parents and carers, there a number of websites offering advice and guidance on how to protect children from the risks of the digital world. The following websites contain useful resources including advice on how to talk to your child about internet safety, monitoring screen time and parental controls on devices:

Reporting a child at risk

If you are concerned that a child or young person under the age of 18 is being harmed or at serious risk of harm online, our children’s social care team can offer you support and advice as well as put you in touch with other services that can help. You will need contact our Single Point of Contact team.

Report grooming or other illegal behaviour online

If you want to report someone who is behaving suspiciously online towards a child, you can make a report to the Child Exploitation Online Protection Centre – CEOP website

In the case of an emergency, you should contact 999.