Police highlight Internet chat room abuse

A pioneering interactive CD aimed at protecting primary school children from abuse through Internet ‘chat rooms’ has been launched by the PSNI in Antrim today.

‘Chattering Class’, the brainchild of the Police Service’s local Community Involvement Team, has been devised with the backing and support of the North Eastern Education and Library Board and Antrim Borough Council’s Community Safety Committee.

Targeted at primary seven children, the CD simulates a ‘chat room’ environment and guides the youngsters, through a number of simple steps, towards using the Internet safely.

Explaining the thinking behind ‘Chattering Class’, Constable Trevor Parker said: “We decided to concentrate on ‘chat rooms’ because of the reality that children enjoy interactive computer work and because of need to make them aware of the dangers of public unmoderated ‘chat rooms’ that may encounter outside school.

“'Chattering Class' allows the children to participate in a simulated ‘chat room’ on topics such as hobbies, animals, music or sport. They are asked a series of questions and if they give an answer which may give personal details such as their name, gender or address a warning flashes on the screen. They score throughout. If they score high enough they can print a certificate. They can improve their score by revisiting a different ‘chat room.’”

The initiative is being piloted in primary schools in the North Eastern Board area and is part of a broader programme in the education sector to ensure that the Internet is used safely and responsibly in schools.

(MB)