INTERNET safety was the focus of a one-day event attended by Harrow Way pupils at Southampton Solent University.

The event, hosted by the university’s criminology department, was aimed at tackling the growing threat of cybercrime.

The conference examined both national and local cybercrime training for the police and young people.

Divided into two sessions, the morning slot included presentations and meetings on Mainstreaming Cybercrime Training and a presentation from the IT company Integritie about its anti-bullying software.

Attending were The College of Policing, Hampshire Police, Portsmouth City Council’s ESafety unit, Solent Criminology, and the Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner, Robin Jarman.

In the afternoon session, Year 10 students from the school, a UNICEF-awarded Rights Respecting School, took centre stage and presented their views on how a rights-respecting approach will help them use the Internet safely and responsibly.

Experts from the morning session listened to the students and provided feedback and commended them for their presentation and ideas.

Senior lecturer in criminology Dr Simon Fox, who organised the day’s event, said: “We were very pleased to host both sessions, since we are working closely with organisations such as Hampshire Police and the Realising Rights Organisation to make the use of the Internet safer for all.

“We are particularly interested in cybercrime prevention and providing training and advice to young and older generations, and those small and medium enterprises that are vulnerable to Internet crime but often left unprotected.

“Cybercrime is growing, so too should our study and response.”