Personal safety

The internet and digital world are an amazing platform in which we can find information, connect with friends as well as a whole host of other uses,

With the Digital world is ever changing and the risks are not always known so it is important to keep yourself safe when you are online.

Some things to remember when online are:

1. Watch your back
   • Whenever you're about to post something online, pause and just imagine someone in authority, someone you respect, reading that post or looking at that photo.  If that feels uncomfortable, don't do it.
2. Got a nickname?
   • Think about using a nickname instead of your real name if you're signing up to a microblogging site like Twitter.
   • Consider setting up a separate, personal email account to use with social media sites, rather than using your work, or even your main personal email. Remember, only connect to people you know.
3. Check your settings
   • Use the privacy and security settings on social media sites so that only friends and family can see your pages.
   • Then speak to friends and family and encourage them to tighten their privacy settings too as they could affect you.
   • Even if your account is locked as private, personal information you have shared with others could still be accessed through their pages.
4. Mother's maiden name
   • Don't use your mother's real maiden name as a password or as a bank security answer.  It doesn't really matter whether you use the real one so make up a name that only you know.  Just make sure you remember it.
5. Guard personal information
   • Don't post any personal information- your address, email address or mobile number - publicly online. Just one piece of personal information could be used by a complete stranger to find out even more. If you want to include your birthday in your profile it's safer not to actually display it publicly - providing your full date of birth makes you more vulnerable to identity fraud
6. Photos and videos
   • Be careful about which photos and videos you share on social media sites - avoid photos of your home, work, school or places you're associated with.  Remember, once you've put a picture of yourself online, other people may be able to see it and download it - it may not just be yours anymore.
7. Check what's needed
   • Don't give out information online simply because it's asked for - think whether whoever is asking for it, really needs it. When you're filling in forms online, for example to register with a website or sign up for a newsletter, always provide the minimum information possible.
8. Direct message if you can
   • It's almost always possible to send a direct message or private message on social media platforms. If you're having a personal chat, this is the best option to go for - unless you don't mind sharing your conversation with millions of other users. Alternatively, send an email from a private account.
9. Delete old accounts
   • If you've stopped using a social media site or forum, then close your account down. There's no point in leaving personal information out there unnecessarily.
10. Get anti virus software
    • Make sure you have anti-virus software installed on your computer and be careful what you download or install on your computer. (Webwise)

Further information

What is radicalisation?

Extremism was defined by the Home Office in 2011 as a vocal or active opposition to fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs.

Extremism is defined as the support or promotion of an ideology based on violence, hatred or intolerance that aims to:

• deny or destroy the fundamental rights and freedoms of others
• undermine or overturn the UK’s system of democracy and democratic rights
• intentionally create an environment that permits or enables others to achieve either of the above.

The new definition also set out types of behaviour which could constitute extremism, including:

• using or excusing violence towards a group of people to stop them from using their legally defined rights and freedoms
• seeking to overthrow or change the political system outside of lawful means
• using or excusing violence towards public officials, including British armed forces and police forces, to stop them carrying out their duties
• attempting to radicalise and recruit others, including young people, to an extremist ideology.

Challenging and tackling extremism needs to be a shared effort (HM Government, 2013). For this reason, the Government has given some types of organisations in England, Scotland and Wales a duty to identify vulnerable children and young people and prevent them from being drawn into terrorism.

Find out more about the Prevent duty

Most extremist materials and activities do not meet a terrorism threshold. All organisations that work with children and young people have a responsibility to protect children from being harmed by radicalisation and exposure to extremist views.

On this page we’re sharing best practice about recognising, responding to and preventing radicalisation and extremism.

Further information

• Radicalisation and child protection | NSPCC Learning
• Advice For Young People | Counter Terrorism Policing

Racism is the practice of treating someone unfairly or making them feel inferior due to their culture, origins, or skin colour. It can occur in a variety of ways, such as by saying hurtful words, excluding someone, or even by enacting unjust laws that harm particular social groups. Racism can cause hurt, fear, or anger, and it is unacceptable. It occurs when people hold onto prejudices or assume that their background makes them superior to others.

Further support

• Racism and mental health | How To Deal With Racism | YoungMinds
• Racism and mental health - Mind
• Talking to children about racism | NSPCC

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is defined as “all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons” (World Health Organisation, WHO, 2018). FGM is an international concern which has due to high levels of migration become an increasing concern within the UK. In UK FGM is defined as mutilation of the labia majora, labia minora or clitoris (Department of Education, Department of Health and Social Care, Home Office, 2018).

Within the UK it is estimated that 10,000 girls under age 15, 103,000 women aged 15 to 49, and 24,000 age 50+, who have migrated to the UK, are living with the consequences of FGM (Macfarlane and Dorkenoo, 2015).

FGM is a form of child abuse. It's dangerous and a criminal offence in the UK. We know:

• there are no medical reasons to carry out FGM
• it's often performed by someone with no medical training, using instruments such as knives, scalpels, scissors, glass or razor blades
• children are rarely given anaesthetic or antiseptic treatment and are often forcibly restrained
• it's used to control female sexuality and can cause long-lasting damage to physical and emotional health (NSPCC).

There are no health benefits to FGM. It can cause serious harm, including:

• severe and/or constant pain
• infections, such as tetanus, HIV and hepatitis B and C
• pain or difficulty having sex
• infertility
• bleeding, cysts and abscesses
• difficulties urinating or incontinence
• organ damage
• problems during pregnancy and childbirth, which can be life-threatening for the mother and baby
• mental health problems, such as depression, flashbacks and self-harm
• death from blood loss or infections (NSPCC).

If you have concerns regarding someone at risk of FGM or someone having undergone FGM follow the inks below to report it:

• Female Genital Mutilation - Prevent & Protect | NSPCC
• Female circumcision, FGM, and cutting | Childline
• What We Do - Savera UK