E-safety - Cybercrime
Mrs Cooper, Designated Safeguarding Lead - ccooper@chessington.kingston.sch.uk
With great tech knowledge, comes great responsibility, and great opportunities too.
People with impressive cyber skills are in high demand. Not just in the UK but also abroad, which means that young people may have an opportunity to travel to new places whilst learning new cyber skills. Plus, you get the chance to work with all the latest tech whilst making a name for yourself in the digital space.
The Cyber Choices programme was created to help people make informed choices and to use their cyber skills legally. The National Crime Agency Cyber Crime Choices website can be viewed here.
If you're looking for more specific information, download the helpful leaflets below - CyberCrime The Law, Student Cyber Choices brochure 12-17 year olds and the parents / carer support - Cyber Choices brochure.
Children are becoming increasingly immersed in communications and computing technology, including phones, tablets, laptops, PCs, game consoles, TVs, and of course, the internet. Many young people are curious and want to explore how these things work, how they interact with each other and what vulnerabilities they have. This can include learning to code or experimenting with tools discovered online. These are great skills, and the cybersecurity industry needs more people with them.
Those with a real interest in how tech works could have a bright future ahead. Skills in coding, gaming, cybersecurity or anything digital-related, are in high demand. The average salary in the UK is £36,903 whereas in tech industry, the average is £53,318. Specialised tech roles are particularly in demand and the average for that is £85,894.
However, some young people are vulnerable and make poor choices and use such skills illegally, often in ignorance of the law. The average age of someone convicted for cybercrime offences is much younger than other crime types; offenders are often teenagers.
It’s important for us to understand why more young people are becoming involved in cybercrime. This enables us to ensure that proper deterrents and alternative opportunities are available to people, so they can enhance their skills and use them positively.
