Online safety tips for youths and parents

Cyber Safety Tips for Youths:

Never give out your name, home address, age, date of birth, phone number or school name – or any personal information – to strangers online.

If engaging in social networking sites, ensure you have security settings in place so only your selected friends can view your information.

Don’t give out your password to anyone, either online or offline.

Don’t engage in online ‘chat’ with people you don’t know and are unknown to your family.

Never agree to meet an online friend in person without one of your parents.

Don’t email pictures of yourself to strangers online.

Never accept things from strangers online, such as email, pictures or links to other websites.

If someone says or does something on line that makes you feel unsafe or uncomfortable, tell an adult straight away.

Cyber Safety Tips for Parents:

Go through the ‘cyber safety tips for youths’ with your child.

Use the Internet with your child. Be involved in your child’s online activities.

Learn about and use tools like filters, check internet histories and set ground rules for online behaviour.

If you allow access to social networking accounts, know your children’s passwords so you can check activity.

Consider if you allow access to social networking accounts, that they are linked where possible to your email account so you receive notifications of activities.

If you allow access to ‘chat rooms’ know, at all times, who your child is talking to online, and what websites they visit.

Put your child’s computer in a ‘family area’ of the house such as the lounge room – never in the child’s room.

Teach your child never to plan a face-to-face meeting with online friends, and to tell you if they are asked to meet someone offline.

Look for signs that indicate that your child may be at risk, such as:

Finding pornography on the computer – child sex offenders use pornography to introduce children to their world

If your child is receiving phone calls, or making calls, to people you don’t know – child sex offenders will try to speak directly to a child they have met on the internet

If your child is spending a lot of time chatting on the internet – sex offenders make a study of children’s interests and will empathise with their problems

If your child is receiving gifts or mail from people you don’t know – another strategy of sex offenders leading up to a face-to-face meeting

When you enter the room does your child switch screens or switch off the computer to hide inappropriate content?

Is your child withdrawn, displaying behavioural problems, accusing you of ‘not understanding’ while spending considerable time on the internet– child sex offenders are masters of exploiting the every day issues that trouble children.

You should report offensive conduct or material to your Internet Service Provider (ISP) in the first instance. You can also report concerning content online to the Australian Communications & Media Authority (ACMA) by going to www.acma.gov.au  and following the links.

If you believe a child may be at risk of harm, contact NT Police on 131 444 you can seek further advice from police by phoning 131 444 & providing details requesting a call back from the Sex Crimes Section.  Alternatively you can remain anonymous by contacting Crimestoppers toll-free on 1800 333 000

If a child is in immediate danger, contact NT Police on Triple zero (000).

Research shows that criminal behaviour can be influenced by the design of the physical environment. Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) is a crime prevention strategy that uses this knowledge to design, or redesign, maintain and manage the physical environment in such a way that:

• Opportunities for criminal or anti-social activity are reduced and
• Personal safety and perceptions of safety are improved

Vehicle crime is made up of a number of different but often related activities. Theft of vehicles and theft from vehicles are the two most common crime types in Australia.
Vehicles can be stolen for a number of reasons, including 'joyriding', to commit other crimes or to be broken up for parts for sale on the black market.
Theft from vehicles, involves the theft of property such as wheels, stereos and personal items - bags, briefcases, laptop computers, wallets, parking meter money…etc.
Thieves gain entry to vehicles primarily by forcing locks or smashing windows.

Introduction

A kilogram of over-the-counter pseudoephedrine based cold and flu tablet medication and a number of relatively inexpensive chemicals, including common household products, can yield the manufacturer a profit of around $200,000 in just a few days. However the manufacturing process is extremely dangerous and so are many of the people involved.

You and your neighbours can help Police by providing a good description of anyone you see acting suspiciously or committing a crime.

If you see someone acting suspiciously write down what you see as soon as possible. Make a note of the most obvious features by which this person can be identified.

If you do see a crime being committed, dial 000 immediately and ask for Police. Keep calm, give your name, address and telephone number. Report where and what is happening. Stay on the phone and, if you can safely, keep watching and write down any further description.

Identity theft has become an increasingly common and widespread crime overseas. It is also on the rise in Australia.

Identity theft occurs when a criminal uses another person's personal information to take on that person's identity. This mainly involves stealing personal details to commit theft or fraud.

Theft of your personal information takes many forms, from stealing your wallet to intercepting your mail.

Once the thief has successfully assumed your identity there are many things they can do with it, from buying and using a mobile phone to writing cheques and opening a credit card account in your name.

Identity theft can ruin your good name and credit rating, which can be very time-consuming and expensive to rectify.