A new study has found that while more than 93 per cent of parents were concerned about a stranger approaching their child online, 16.7 per cent of parents thought their child was not at risk at all of being contacted by a stranger online and a further 26.5 per cent thought it was unlikely.
During 2020, the eSafety Commissioner’s Cyber Report team received 21,000 public reports, the majority of which involved child sexual abuse material, the most in the scheme’s 20-year history and a 90 per cent increase compared with 2019.
NSW Crime Stoppers CEO Peter Price said unwanted contact, grooming and child sexual abuse online continued to be a devastating issue, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic
“Many parents would not leave their child alone in a playground and we want parents to think the same about the online playground,” he said.
“The internet is not ‘fenced off’ like in a community playground and even with parental controls, sexual predators can still find ways to connect with children online.
“Until we can build a safe online playground for our children, we just ask parents to be vigilant around their child’s online activity and report anything you see, hear or suspect.”
A fact sheet which has information on a range of prevention strategies to help keep children safe online, can be downloaded at nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.
If you know or suspect someone is producing, downloading, or sharing child sexual abuse material, you can make a confidential report to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.
Payment fraud arrests
A PROPERTY at Merrylands was raided by police as they investigated alleged flood-payment fraud.
Within hours of the raid on September 9, two men who allegedly unlawfully obtained money through several charitable organisations and a NSW Government disaster recovery payment scheme, were arrested at Werrington and charged.
Police allegedly seized documents, mobile phones, methylamphetamine (ice) and cannabis from the Merrylands property.
Earlier this month, police were made aware that two men had allegedly accessed payments from three charitable organisations and a NSW Government disaster recovery payment scheme designed for victims of floods.
The men, aged 28, were each charged with five counts of dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception and not comply with noticed direction – Covid-19.
Police will allege in court both men obtained numerous flood relief payments from various providers despite being ineligible.
Officers must get jab
FOLLOWING the escalation of cases of Covid-19 and its significant risk, all NSW Police Force employees will be required to be vaccinated against the virus.
They must have received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine by September 30 and their second dose by November 30.
More than 17,000 police employees had already been fully or partially vaccinated. Exemptions will be available for medical contraindications and other valid reasons.
