Do you know where your kids surf? The Internet, like the real world, can be dangerous. Crimes on the Internet may be executed differently, and the scale is generally larger, but Internet crime is still a human enterprise and that means, at the end of the day, that part of the internet is host to malicious people who want our property or harm us. While it may sound pessimistic, it was found that thinking this way makes it easier to see the need to protect children who go online. Just as you wouldn't let your children wander the streets without knowing where they're going, you wouldn't do the same online. According to a new study in 'Science Daily,' there is an enormous gap between what parents think their children are doing online and what is really happening. Thankfully, prevention here is common sense and not difficult. Children should be encouraged to tell their parents about Internet encounters that make them uncomfortable. The best is for parents to have open communication about what your children do online. Establishing a trust is of great importance. The Internet, after all, is a superb source of information and if used correctly can be enormously beneficial to both parents and children.

 'Stay safe - Stay well'

Ald. Pierre Koep - Local Police news co-ordinator

083 443 0118.