Hampshire's police and crime commissioner (PCC) has called for more to be done to protect children online.

Donna Jones said it is vital for parents, schools, tech companies and law enforcement to step up and do more.

Her call came on Safer Internet Day, Tuesday, February 11, the annual campaign promoting a safer digital environment for children and young people.

It raises awareness of online safety issues including cyberbullying, data misuse and exposure to harmful content.

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Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones has called for more to be done to protect children online (Image: Supplied) Data on children aged 10 to 15 years from the Office for National Statistics for the England and Wales Crime Survey reveals that in the year ending March 2023, 35 per cent accepted a friend request online from someone they did not know, 8.5 per cent shared their location publicly, and an estimated 19.2 per cent exchanged messages online with someone they had never met in person.

Almost one in 10 children aged 13 to 15 received a sexual message while just over 19 per cent experienced online bullying behaviour.

Ms Jones said: "Every child deserves to explore the digital world without danger. If there isn’t sufficient protection and education, the internet is a dangerous space for children and young people.

"Social media, gaming platforms and messaging apps are all being exploited by criminals to groom, exploit and harm children and young people.

"Children may be more tech savvy than us but they may also not fully know or understand the risks and dangers involved. Sadly for some families, these risks lead to tragic consequences."

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The PCC’s Youth Commission runs a Cyber Ambassador scheme for primary schools with a peer-led approach where a number of pupils learn about key online safety issues.

Ambassadors then pass their learning onto their friends and peers offering helpful support and advice.

In 2024, 29 primary schools across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight received the training, paid for by the PCC, with 312 students becoming Cyber Ambassadors.

Since its launch in 2016, the scheme has been delivered to more than 150 schools across the region.

This initiative has inspired the National Cyber Security Centre to roll out a national programme creating its own student leader scheme for CyberFirst.

Ms Jones said: "The initiative is having a meaningful effect not only in the schools here but further afield where it is being seen as best practice for online safety for children and young people."