PUPILS at a Hampshire primary school are some of the first in the county to become fully equipped to defeat Cyber Sea Monsters and help other students stay safe online.

The four year three and four pupils at Halterworth Primary School have become some of the first Cyber Ambassadors in Hampshire and are helping the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Youth Commission to pilot this new peer-led scheme to tackle concerns about staying safe online.

The aim of the Cyber Ambassador scheme is to enable skilled-up, informed pupils to educate and offer advice and support to their peers so they can make the most of the internet and stay safe. Halterworth is one of nine primary and seven secondary schools to have volunteered to take part in the pilot.

During the training on October 3, the children learned the sneaky tricks that cyber sea monsters Selphire (selfies) Meanataur (cyberbullying), Angler (searching), Info-Eator (privacy) and Bi-Diphorus (befriending) get up to and the ways they can help put a stop to them and the harm they cause.

Police and Crime Commissioner Michael Lane said: “Cyber security for all ages really matters. Our lives are increasingly played out online, with younger people in particular making the most of the benefits that technology can bring. However those who wish us harm are also increasingly using technology, they are clever and we all need to understand the risks these people and their activity creates.

Acting Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner, Flick Drummond, who attended the training on the Commissioner’s behalf, added: “This is an excellent programme which I hope will be rolled out through all schools in Hampshire, Southampton, Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight. Our children need more resilience than ever before to combat the ever increasing online threats.”

Other schools taking part in the training include: Pilgrims' Cross Church of England Primary School (Aided) Andover; Vigo Primary School, Andover; Bosmere School, Havant; Medstead Primary, Alton; Portsmouth High School; Cowes Primary School, Isle of Wight; Newchurch Primary School, Isle of Wight; Nettlestone Primary School, Isle of Wight.