We team up with retailer GAME to keep children safe online

Officers from our Business Crime Team have been at the GAME store at Lakeside Shopping Centre in West Thurrock, to offer advice to parents, guardians, and caregivers on how they can help keep their children safe online.

Working alongside managers and staff at the games retailer, PC Glen Foote handed out information cards to anyone who was buying a games console, smart device, or game for a child.

The cards have a QR code which when scanned, takes the person to our ‘Sort Your Settings’ webpage.

The webpage provides advice on how to check the settings on your child’s games console, smart device, or game, to ensure they stay safe online. This includes how to check, change, or update parental controls, plus information about game ratings, social media and more.

Working in partnership with our Strategic Vulnerability Centre, who work to ensure we’re helping and protecting vulnerable people in our community, PC Foote said:

“This is all about providing parents, guardians, and caregivers with the knowledge they need to help keep their child safe online.
“We are delighted to be working with local GAME branches to trial this initiative. The branch has agreed for cashiers to continue to hand out our QR code cards to anyone buying a games console or smart device in the coming weeks.
“I would like to thank store managers Aaron Jordan, Craig Webb, and their staff for their support. Thanks to their help, we believe more children will stay safe when online.”

Lakeside Shopping Centre GAME store manager, Aaron Jordon said:

“We are fully behind this initiative from Essex Police in protecting young people and the vulnerable. “We often have requests from customers to assist with putting parental controls in place and safeguarding purchases of online gaming items.
“We hope the ‘Sort Your Settings’ cards will prove both popular and valuable to the public.”

The cards will also be available in the Lakeside BELONG gaming arena, which provides a space for gamers of all levels to access the latest gaming devices, and games.

“We regularly host birthday parties for young people across the weekends” said BELONG branch manager Craig Webb.
“We are passionate about sharing safeguarding advice with our customers and this link to online safety information will do just that.”

If the trial proves successful, we hope to expand the initiative to game retailers across the county in the new year.

For more information about loot boxes, chat functions and what you can do to help keep your child safe online please visit our Sort Your Settings webpage.