KENT Police are issuing internet safety posters to secondary schools across the county to help raise awareness of the dangers of the web.

Officers are concerned that people are not listening to advice after it has become apparent that children in Kent continue to speak to people they do not know over the internet.

Sometimes, stress police, they are putting themselves at further risk by arranging to meet them without knowing who they really are.

PC Martin Carter Kent Police Force Youth Crime Reduction Officer said: ‘We need to highlight to parents that they can’t ignore the potential dangers. Parents can make a difference. They need to take an interest and be there to help and protect their children.

"Filtering and blocking software should be put in place and parents should think about where the computer is placed. Too many children have an unprotected computer and web cam, often to be found in their bedroom where they are unsupervised."

The two poster designs will target students and their parents and teachers, emphasising the risk factors of the internet and signposting children and their carers to help and advice.

The A3 posters aim to alert young people to the potential dangers of sending information and photographs over the internet and warn carers that they never know who is watching over a web cam.

Other potential internet threats include personal security, grooming and online child abuse, illegal content and cyber bullying.

PC Carter added: "Although we are concerned about young people being victims of web offences, unfortunately cyber bullying is a growing trend and young people need to know that sending threatening or abusive texts or emails is a crime and that they can be held to account.

"Many young people think that they can't be traced when sending this type of message, but they are not anonymous."

Young people, their parents and teachers can find out more about these threats and safeguarding against them by visiting sites such as www.kent.police.uk www.clusterweb.org.uk?esafetyblog www.thinkuknow.co.uk www.childnet-int.org www.internetsafetyzone.com and www.bbc.co.uk/chatguide

Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) www.ceop.gov.uk is a new government led site which offers internet safety advice for parents and carers and delivering a virtual police station for reporting abuse on the internet.