Preventing cybercrime by children (Cyberchoices)

Keeping Children Safe in Education (Annex B) includes a specific section on Cybercrime.

Cybercrime is criminal activity committed using computers and/or the internet. 

It is broadly categorised as either:

• ‘cyber-enabled’ (crimes that can happen off-line but are enabled at scale and at speed on-line) or
• ‘cyber dependent’ (crimes that can be committed only by using a computer).

Cyber-dependent crimes include:
• unauthorised access to computers (illegal ‘hacking’), for example accessing a
school’s computer network to look for test paper answers or change grades
awarded
• ‘Denial of Service’ (Dos or DDoS) attacks or ‘booting’. These are attempts to make
a computer, network or website unavailable by overwhelming it with internet traffic
from multiple sources, and,
• making, supplying or obtaining malware (malicious software) such as viruses,
spyware, ransomware, botnets and Remote Access Trojans with the intent to
commit further offence, including those above.

Children with particular skills and interest in computing and technology may inadvertently
or deliberately stray into cyber-dependent crime

If there are concerns that a child is at risk of engaging with cyber-dependent crime the designated safeguarding lead (or a deputy), should consider referring into the Cyber Choices programme.

Local support and arrangements

West Midlands Regional Organised Crime Unit have a Cyber Prevent Team who work with:

• individuals who are at risk of, or on the cusp of, committing cyber-dependent crimes. The team aim to avoid criminalisation of these young people, and work with them to educate them about the Computer Misuse Act.
• School staff; offering free training for school staff about the Cyber Choices programme, including when and how to make a referral to us.

To find out more and make a referral; please visit: Prevent - WM Cyber.