Rap message wins Leeds school first cyber crime contest

Corpus Christi Catholic College have been crowned the first ever victors in the West Yorkshire Police and the Police and Crime Commissioner's contest.

The competition stared in September 2017 and challenged pupils from years seven, eight and nine from schools across the county to design a resource to help keep people safe online.

It could take any form, such as a website, leaflet, phone application or even a rap or spoken message.

Twenty-six schools signed up to compete with a handful going through to the grand final at West Yorkshire Police's Learning and Development Centre in Wakefield.

Guiseley School, BBG Academy, The North Halifax Grammar School, Allerton High School, Corpus Christi Catholic College and Brighouse High School all competed to win the contest.

The final consisted of each school giving a presentation to a judging panel of experts including members of West Yorkshire Police's Cyber Crime Unit, the NSPCC, Barclays Digital Eagles and the Police and Crime Commissioner, Mark Burns-Williamson.

Ms A Thompson, lead dance and drama teacher and PSHC co-ordinator at Corpus Christi Catholic College, said: "The children are ecstatic to have won and really enjoyed highlighting what to do if you are being cyber bullied.

"The children will now continue to promote their resource and their message, block it, delete it, don't keep it yourself."

Mr Burns-Williamson, West Yorkshire's Police and Crime Commissioner, said: "Firstly a massive congratulations to Corpus Christi Catholic College for winning the first ever cyber crime schools competition in West Yorkshire.

"I also want to put on record my thanks to all schools, the pupils and students that took part and teachers who helped support all the hard work that led up to this final. The calibre of entries was exceptionally high, they really didn't leave us with an easy task in judging.

"Tackling cyber crime and keeping our communities safe is a key focus for West Yorkshire Police and myself and I have previously invested funding to assist in creating a dedicated Cyber Crime Unit.

"The Unit is one part of the solution to tackling cyber crime, but another major part is raising awareness of the relatively simple steps you can take to keep yourselves and your loved ones safe.

"The problem comes with raising awareness of these steps which aren't always the most easy things to read.

"However, who better to help than young people themselves who are often at the forefront of technology and much more digitally aware than most adults, something these students definitely proved in bringing the issue of cyber crime awareness to life."

Detective Chief Inspector Vanessa Smith, lead for West Yorkshire Police's Cyber Crime Unit and judge, said: "Well done to Corpus Christi Catholic College for their winning entry.

"The standard of entries was so high it was difficult to pick a winner. I was impressed with the technical ability and overall IT knowledge of all applicants.

"One of the best ways to prevent people falling victim to cyber crime is to share simple messages about protecting yourself.

"It can be as simple as having a secure password or not opening an email sent from someone you don't know. Young people have a big role to play in helping to educate less 'tech-savy' people and that is why we launched this competition to appeal for ideas to help get the message across."