PARENTS are being encouraged to talk to their children about dangers online.

Cumbria's Police and Crime Commissioner Peter McCall says that as children and teenagers spend more time online during the summer holidays, they are more susceptible to being targetted by cyber criminals.

Mr McCall wants parents to make their children aware of these dangers - to discuss what is appropriate to share online as well as considering if they are speaking to someone who might not be who they say they are.

“Younger generations are becoming increasingly more tech savvy however this does not mean that they are immune to the dangers of cyber crime.

“Predators are on our social media and it’s our duty as parents to make our children aware of these dangers," he said.

“It’s so important that we understand the risks that come with having an online presence – most of us have experienced scam emails and we all want our children to be as safe as possible when online.”

Parents are advised to have regular talks with youngsters to remind them not to share any personal information,ne, such as their address, online and should set rules and boundaries about who children can speak to and how much time they can spend online.

Mr McCall added that it's also important to check what children are watching on streaming sites such as Netflix or Youtube to make sure it is age appropriate and does not include graphic content.

For more information on online safety visit getsafeonline.org/safeguarding-children.