A campaign focusing on online safety awareness and youth produced sexual imagery has been relaunched.

Essex Police is working with safeguarding children boards in Essex, Southend and Thurrock on the I Didn't Know campaign.

Online abuse is present in more than 60 per cent of all cases of child sex exploitation investigated by the force.

A week-long social media campaign to target parents and carers as research shows they are unaware of the dangers of social media and the privacy settings available on social media apps.

Maldon District Council is supporting the campaign.

Ali Burlington, community safety development officer, said: “It is important that parents and carers are aware of the dangers of social media and online apps.

“We want to make sure children and young people aged eight to 13 years old know how to stay safe and know what to do if they are worried about something they have seen or been asked to do online.”

Bob Boyce chairman of community services, said “We are all concerned about the dangers of a rapidly changing online world.

“The council is pleased to support this important campaign to help strengthen communities to be safe and safeguard children.”

Parents and carers take steps to make sure their child’s social media is secure by visiting www.essex.police.uk/onlineCSE.