Published Monday, 09 July, 2007 at 01:47 PM
Minister for Police and Corrective Services
The Honourable Judy Spence
QUEENSLAND POLICE KEEPING KIDS SAFE ON THE INTERNET
Queensland children are being educated about the dangers lurking on the internet, Police Minister Judy Spence said today.
Ms Spence said police have been promoting Internet safety for families, at schools around the state, using education tools developed by Queensland Police’s Online Paedophile Unit, codenamed “Task Force Argos”.
“The Task Force has received great interest and support from schools, with officers asked to deliver presentations to almost 2,000 Queensland students, since September last year,” Ms Spence said.
“The Task Force has also distributed over 35,000 ‘Surf Safely’ help and hint cards, while other policing groups have delivered presentations to a further 8,200 students in the greater Brisbane area.
“Task Force Argos is leading the way in the fight against online child exploitation.
“The Task Force has identified and developed excellent tools for educating children about how to protect themselves from paedophiles on the web.
“It is essential our children are informed about these issues, to stop them falling prey to cyber criminals.”
Ms Spence said officers from the Task Force continue to receive excellent feedback and interest in their ‘Surf Safely’ campaign, which was developed to specifically target primary school children in Years Five to Seven.
“The program provides an educational resource package for Child Protection and Investigation Unit officers, School-Based Police Officers and teachers, including a PowerPoint presentation, learning outcomes, mouse mats, help and hint cards and posters.
“Education Queensland, Queensland Catholic Education Commission and Independent Schools Queensland have embraced the ‘Surf Safely’ program which will be used as a component of their protective behaviours curriculum commencing later in 2007.
“The Queensland Police Service is currently finalising the procurement of a further 150,000 ‘help and hint’ cards together with other ‘Surf Safely’ promotional material for distribution to schools in the coming months.”
Ms Spence said these education programs were an essential part of the fight against child abuse on the internet.
“By educating parents, teachers and the children themselves, we can go a long way towards preventing the victimisation of our society’s most vulnerable on the internet.”
More Information: Troy Davies – 3239 6218/ 0439 673 287
Ms Spence said police have been promoting Internet safety for families, at schools around the state, using education tools developed by Queensland Police’s Online Paedophile Unit, codenamed “Task Force Argos”.
“The Task Force has received great interest and support from schools, with officers asked to deliver presentations to almost 2,000 Queensland students, since September last year,” Ms Spence said.
“The Task Force has also distributed over 35,000 ‘Surf Safely’ help and hint cards, while other policing groups have delivered presentations to a further 8,200 students in the greater Brisbane area.
“Task Force Argos is leading the way in the fight against online child exploitation.
“The Task Force has identified and developed excellent tools for educating children about how to protect themselves from paedophiles on the web.
“It is essential our children are informed about these issues, to stop them falling prey to cyber criminals.”
Ms Spence said officers from the Task Force continue to receive excellent feedback and interest in their ‘Surf Safely’ campaign, which was developed to specifically target primary school children in Years Five to Seven.
“The program provides an educational resource package for Child Protection and Investigation Unit officers, School-Based Police Officers and teachers, including a PowerPoint presentation, learning outcomes, mouse mats, help and hint cards and posters.
“Education Queensland, Queensland Catholic Education Commission and Independent Schools Queensland have embraced the ‘Surf Safely’ program which will be used as a component of their protective behaviours curriculum commencing later in 2007.
“The Queensland Police Service is currently finalising the procurement of a further 150,000 ‘help and hint’ cards together with other ‘Surf Safely’ promotional material for distribution to schools in the coming months.”
Ms Spence said these education programs were an essential part of the fight against child abuse on the internet.
“By educating parents, teachers and the children themselves, we can go a long way towards preventing the victimisation of our society’s most vulnerable on the internet.”
More Information: Troy Davies – 3239 6218/ 0439 673 287