We're making changes to bin collections across the town from 1 April. Find out about the changes

Home chevron_right Crime and safety chevron_right Prevent chevron_right Online safety advice

Online safety advice for parents and carers

Keeping your children safe online is just as important as keeping them safe in the real world. This can be challenging for parents when technology develops and changes so quickly. This page brings together information and guidance to help you understand the risks children face online, and how to keep them safe.

To help you support your children to be safe online, we recommend taking a look at these websites:

  • Internet Matters: a website raising parents' awareness about the risks from online radicalisation
  • Safer Internet: a useful resource for parents and carers about keeping your children safe online
  • Educate Against Hate: a great starting point for answers to questions you as parents may have about the risk of radicalisation
  • Parent Zone: help and advice for families in a digital world

If you're worried about a young person or vulnerable adult who may be at risk of radicalisation, you can speak to the safeguarding lead at their school, or contact Middlesbrough Council's safeguarding team (Middlesbrough Multi-Agency Children's Hub) by calling 01642 726004. The purpose of Prevent is to protect vulnerable people from the risk of being exploited by extremists.

You might also find the following resources helpful:

  • Middlesbrough Council's Prevent resources: resources about the Prevent safeguarding process, which aims to identify and safeguard young people and vulnerable adults at risk of radicalisation
  • ACT Early: The Counter Terrorism Policing website with useful information and advice to help if you're worried that a friend or loved one may be at risk of radicalisation
  • Child Net: advice on keeping your children safe online

Make a referral

If you're a professional who's worried about a young person or vulnerable adult at risk of being radicalised, use the professionals Prevent referral form.

If you're worried that a friend or family member is at risk of being radicalised, you can make a Prevent referral on the Cleveland Police website.

You can also call Middlesbrough Council's safeguarding team (for both young people and adults) on 01642 726004, or Cleveland Police on 101.

In an emergency, always call 999.