Nottinghamshire Police

Home > Crime reduction > Crime prevention > Personal Security > Children and young people

Children and young people

Stranger danger

• Teach your child about ‘Stranger Danger’ and the importance of not speaking to or going with someone they do not know. Tell them that no matter what story they are told, it is unlikely to be true and they must not believe it
• If they are approached by a stranger and invited to go with them or get into their car, tell them to say ‘No’ and walk or run away from the stranger
• Explain to your child that they should tell you if a stranger has approached them. If you’re not around they should speak to a teacher, police officer, traffic warden, a security guard in a shop or someone behind a counter
• Encourage your child to keep you informed about where he or she intends to play, who they will be playing with and what time they will be home
• Discuss with your child what to do if they get lost or you become separated while out shopping
• Make sure your child knows his or her address and, if possible, their home telephone number

The internet

• Keep your computer in a family room where you can supervise its use
• Discuss and encourage your child to share information with you about what they have seen and learnt from the internet. Urge them to show you anything they see that makes them feel uncomfortable
• Explain to your child the dangers of chat rooms and what are inappropriate subjects to discuss. Ask your child to tell you about anyone trying to contact them privately or users talking inappropriately
• Warn your child about the dangers of sharing personal information over the internet with people they do not know. Remind them that they should think of people they encounter on the internet as strangers
• Never let your child meet in person anyone they have met via the internet unless it is under your supervision
• Use safety filters, if your internet service provider has them, to prevent your child from accessing adult or illegal content
• Don’t allow your child access to your credit or debit card details

Bullying

• If you are worried that your child is being bullied, ask him or her directly
• Be aware of the signs and symptoms of bullying, such as children not wanting to go to school, unexplained cuts and bruises, lost dinner money and anxiety
• Try and establish the facts when you are told about an incident of bullying
• If your child is being bullied at school, talk to their teacher or the school’s head teacher. Usually the problem can be dealt with straight away and without the need for official action
• Talk to your child about what to do if they are being bullied. Encourage them to tell a friend what is happening and avoid being alone in places where the bully will find it easier to pick on them
• Explain to your child that their safety is more important than their possessions or money, and to give bullies what they want if they feel threatened
• Arrange to meet your child if the bullying is happening on the way to or from school
• Keep a written diary of all incidents of bullying. This will make it easier to show what has been going on
• If your child is assaulted or robbed by a bully, contact the police