Category: Safeguarding

Today is Safer Internet Day and we’re sharing tips and advice on how you and your family can stay safe online.

Globally, extremists use misinformation to influence, groom and recruit children and young and vulnerable people.

And in the past 12 months, the coronavirus pandemic has really brought home to us how easy it is to spread misinformation through social media and websites.

Various stories containing false information about coronavirus vaccines have fuelled health scares, false accusations and potentially damaging hoax stories.

That’s why it’s really important that we use the SHARE checklist before sharing news online.

Reliable online safety resources

Our online safety page shares lots of really great resources for checking where information comes from, together with tips for parents on talking to children and young people about staying safe online.

Take the safer internet quiz

The internet has an amazing range of information and opportunities online, but how do we separate fact from fiction?

At Training Now we take the safety and welfare of our apprentices seriously.

Read how we support the Government’s Prevent strategy on our Safeguarding page. We also set out our commitment to providing an environment that values our apprentices, learners, visitors and staff.

Our commitment to safeguarding

We are committed to ensuring that you are safe and know who to turn to if you have a concern about your own welfare or that of a fellow apprentice. You can contact one of the safeguarding team or your teaching and learning coach at any time to report a concern or to ask for welfare support.

What are the signs that someone may be at risk of being radicalised?

The threat of far-right extremism and terrorism has risen considerably in the last few years there are also risks from other groups and ideologies and conspiracy theories. With everyone spending more time online because of Covid the risk of being radicalised through online media is also increasing.

It’s important to be able to spot the signs that someone maybe be at risk of being radicalised. These signs can include:

• a change in behaviour
• changing their circle of friends
• isolating themselves from family and friends
• talking as if from a scripted speech
• unwillingness or inability to discuss their viewss
• a sudden disrespectful attitude towards others
• increased levels of anger.

If you have concerns that someone you know has been radicalised please contact Laura Lawson on: 07738892289

Counter Terrorism Policing Winter Vigilance Campaign

The coronavirus pandemic has changed all our day-to-day life routines. So the threat from terrorism might not necessarily be at the front of your mind. But sadly the threat of terrorism has not gone away.

The national Counter Terrorism Policing Winter Vigilance Campaign encourages the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.

National and regional COVID restrictions mean our city centres and public locations will no doubt feel different over the festive season. However, there have been recent terror attacks in Europe. The UK’s terrorism threat level has been changed to SEVERE – meaning an attack is highly likely.

We all have a part to play

The Winter Vigilance Campaign was launched by Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Lucy D’Orsi. She reminded us that just like in the fight against coronavirus, we all have a part to play in protecting ourselves and others against the threat of terrorism.

“With COVID-19 still casting a shadow over everyone’s lives, it is understandable that terrorism isn’t something most people are thinking much about right now,” she said.

“But recent attacks across Europe have shown us that the threat of terrorism has not gone away. In fact the UK’s terror threat level has just been raised to SEVERE – meaning an attack is highly likely.

“I must stress that there is no intelligence to link those attacks in Europe to the UK. But as we move out of the tightest lockdown restrictions into a busy shopping period in the run-up to Christmas, we want the public to be vigilant against more than just the virus.

“Similar to tackling Covid-19, defeating terrorism requires a collective community effort – where police, security staff, retail workers and the public come together to minimise the chance of attack.”

If you see or hear something suspicious while out and about, trust your instincts. Report any concerns to police, shop security or staff. You can also reports concerns in confidence at www.gov.uk/ACT. In an emergency always call 999.

Last year the BBC reported that people in the UK lost more than £190,000 a day as a result of cyber-crime.

Police statistics show that 13,357 people in the UK reported cyber crimes over six months. Many had their social media and email accounts hacked.

Tips for staying safe online

A big part of staying safe online is to properly evaluate what you are looking at when you’re online.

This set of questions may help you to do this:

1. Is this website/URL/email fake? How can I tell?
2. What does this cookie do and what information am I sharing?
3. Is this person who they say they are?
4. Why does someone want me to see this?
5. Why does someone want me to send this?
6. Why would someone want me to believe this?
7. Why does this person want my personal information?
8. What’s behind this post?
9. Is this too good to be true?
10. Is this fact or opinion? 

If you are not sure of an email or text you should not click on any links within it, reply, or give out your personal information.

You can do a search online using the exact words in the text or email that you are not sure of in order to see if this is a known scam.

You can also investigate whether a website is safe or not by looking for the “S” in HTTPS, checking for a website privacy policy, finding their contact information, and verifying their trust seal.

Advice from Gov.uk

The official UK Government website has advice on how to avoid and report internet scams and phishing.

You can report a misleading website, email or phone number to:

• National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC)
• Action Fraud
• Google if it appears as an advert in their search results
• Bing if it appears as an advert in their search results

Modern slavery covers all forms of slavery, trafficking and exploitation.

Trafficking includes transporting, recruiting or harbouring an individual with a view to them being exploited.

Modern slavery crimes may involve, or take place alongside, a wide range of abuses and other criminal offences such as grievous bodily harm, assault, rape or child sexual abuse.

Download this infographic as a pdf.

Who are the victims?

Victims of modern slavery can be men, women and children of any age across the world. There is an assumption that victims are often trafficked to the UK from other countries. However, residents of the UK are also among the victims that are exploited in the UK and other countries.

Victims may struggle to leave their situation because of threats, punishment, violence, coercion and deception. Some may believe that they are not in a situation of exploitation.

Download this poster as a pdf.

How to report modern slavery

Trafficking gangs are dangerous criminals. If you come across anyone you believe could be a victim of modern slavery, a property that raises suspicion, or a business you think might be using forced labour, either:

• call the helpline on 0800 0121 700 or
• call the police

It is the duty of trained professionals to identify victims so leave it up to them.

If you believe that a child is at risk, immediately contact the police and the local authority children’s services.

Where to find out more

For further information please go to modernslavery.co.uk.