Protecting against cyber crime

Educating young people is an important component in cybercrime prevention, a subject close to the heart of Police Commissioner Howard Broad.

Howard recently submitted an extensive article for The Police Chief, a USA-based international policing magazine with probably the largest police readership in the western world.

Co-written with Liz Butterfield of NetSafe, New Zealand’s Internet Safety Group, the article outlined New Zealand’s stance and approach on protecting people from the risk of cyber crime.

A major part of the article focused on Hector’s World, an animated online safety education programme for children aged 2 - 10 years and their families.

Hector’s World content has input from NZ Police and includes a NZ Police officer character called ‘Constable Solosolave’ who, alongside other characters such as dolphin ‘Hector Protector’, helps deliver online safety messages in a fun, interactive way in the fictional setting of Silicon Deep.

“There are learning opportunities with this resource for adults and children, as well as for those with special learning needs,” says Howard.

“Combined with law enforcement, education can reduce opportunities for cybercrime by increasing awareness and stimulating practical online crime reduction strategies.”

Hector’s World content will also be integrated into YES programmes such as Keeping Ourselves Safe.

Hector’s World is a charitable subsidiary of NetSafe. Many NZ Police individuals and groups have contributed to NetSafe’s content through the years.

Commissioner Broad was involved in helping grow Netsafe in 2000 when he was Auckland City District Commander. He is now a board member of both NetSafe and Hector’s World.

The Commissioner’s full article entitled Cybercitizenship for the Very Young: An Evolution in Cybercrime Prevention Education in New Zealand can be found online. [When in the site, search on ‘cybercrime’].