Rise in children targeted online

There has been a "significant increase" in the number of recent offences where children in Jersey have been exploited on the internet, according to police.

Officers in the island are calling for parents to be vigilant about what children do online, and in particular, who they contact in chat rooms.

The calls come ahead of two talks this week to give internet safety advice.

Det Sgt Sarah Henderson said: "We would urge parents to monitor who their children are speaking to online."

She added: "The States of Jersey Police are aware that there is a growing trend amongst young children to engage in inappropriate sexual acts on the internet.

"The internet is a very public place. You wouldn't walk down the street handing out pictures of yourself to strangers, yet by posting images onto the internet that is the online equivalent, and they could end up being seen by potentially anyone."