Site highlights cyber hazards

Pupils at a Cheltenham school have been given a lesson on how to tackle cyber fraud.

James Brokenshire, Shadow Minster for Crime Reduction, visited Balcarras School to help launch a new website.

He joined its founder, Caroline Coates, and prospective Conservative parliamentary candidate for Cheltenham Mark Coote at the school to view www.cyberfraud.org.uk.

The site aims to make young people aware of the dangers posed to them by cyber crime.

Mr Brokenshire said: “Balcarras was an important platform for the launch because it’s young people we want to get this message out to.

“Cyber crime is one of the fastest growing crimes in the country and research shows people are more fearful of that than they are of being robbed in the street.

"I’d like to make it part of young people’s IT lessons in school, so that they’re told how to protect themselves and guard against the dangers.”

Caroline said: “Chatrooms and social networking sites pose a high-level threat for our children and we need to ensure that young people are educated about this and can make educated and informed choices.”

Mr Coote hailed the site as a “fantastic initiative”, helping to protect the public.