GMP teams up with Manchester United Foundation to keep youngsters safe online
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) is collaborating with the Manchester United Foundation to host an internet safety day for young people, focusing on cybercrime prevention. The event, held at Hotel Football near Old Trafford, will involve interactive activities for around 60 participants from the Street Reds project. The initiative aims to educate youngsters on online dangers, phishing scams, and cyber hygiene, with workshops from various organizations. The event is part of Safer Internet Day 2025, which emphasizes scams and online safety for young people.
Cyber Safety Day to Educate Manchester Youth on Online Dangers
Around 60 young people from Manchester United Foundation’s Street Reds project will gather at Hotel Football next to Old Trafford on 18 February for an intensive internet safety training day organized by Greater Manchester Police’s Cyber Crime Unit.
The interactive event will feature GMP’s Cyber Escape Room activity alongside workshops delivered by Lancaster University, Cyber First, and Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit, all designed to equip children and teenagers with essential online protection skills.
Sophie Newburn, a Cyber Protect Officer for GMP, explained that fraud and cyber crime accounts for approximately 40% of all recorded crime in the UK, with statistics showing that half of these offenses could be prevented with proper knowledge. “Scams include phishing, where criminals send malicious emails/text messages containing dodgy links to trick people into parting with their personal or financial information,” she said. “Criminals often make these messages appear like they are from credible sources, like a bank.”
The Street Reds program provides free football and alternative activities for 8-18 year olds across all Greater Manchester boroughs. Seth Wyatt, Manchester United Foundation Community Engagement Coordinator, emphasized the importance of this partnership: “Working alongside external organisations plays an important role in our delivery, adding value through enrichment activities that help to educate, support and protect young people across Greater Manchester.”
Newburn will conduct additional school events throughout February as part of Safer Internet Day, focusing on education as the primary defense against cyber threats. “Children these days tend to be extremely tech savvy, and this can be useful. However, it is important that children are made aware of, and protected from the possible dangers online,” she stated.
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