PRIMARY school pupils are being asked to create an internet safety poster with a chance of winning prizes for themselves and their school.

North Wales Police’s SchoolBeat programme has launched the initiative for all North Wales primary and secondary school pupils with the aim of raising awareness of how to stay safe online.

It follows a sharp increase in the time young people are spending online amid the coronavirus lockdowns over the last year.

Pupils taking part will create a paper or digital poster that includes advice on issues such as not giving out personal information online, creating a strong password and speaking to a trusted adult about cyberbullying. They are also being encouraged to research websites such as the NSPCC to get information for their poster.

“With pupils still home learning for the time being we thought it was the perfect opportunity to launch this competition and with Safer Internet Day just around the corner we thought it was a great time for the children to get their thinking caps on," said PC Dewi Owen, of the SchoolBeat programme.

"Sadly, our SchoolBeat officers across north Wales have seen a significant increase in incidents of internet misuse involving pupils being reported by both schools and parents since the schools reopened in September 2020.

“The safe and competent use of the Internet is a vital tool in the development of our young people, and the internet is also going to be increasingly used during their education. Our youngsters are our future and we, as North Wales Police, are committed to ensuring that they are safeguarded."

Each primary school will be contacted by their dedicated SchoolBeat officer and a promotional video, which has been created to help launch the competition, will also be shared with teachers and pupils.

The three winning schools will each receive £300 and a visit by the CGI Virtual Escape Room, while three runner-up schools will receive £150 each

The winning individual pupils will each receive an Ospreys signed rugby squad photos, a signed Wrexham AFC shirt, six family passes for the Slate Mountain Adventure Tour (worth £100 each) and an Echo Dot voice-controlled smart speaker.

Entries should be emailed to cybercrimeteam@nthwales.pnn.police.uk before the competition deadline on April 16.

For more information about SchoolBeat visit the website.