Staffordshire County Council awards Securus and RM e-safety contract

Published 5th January 2009

Staffordshire County Council has awarded Securus, in collaboration with RM, a contract to implement a computer monitoring solution in nearly 400 schools across the county. The solution monitors computers in schools and provides alerts if pupils place themselves or others in danger.

Securus, a sophisticated computer monitoring solution, will be implemented in January 2009 in 54 secondary schools and 330 primary schools. It highlights inappropriate language, and captures screenshot evidence if pupils use: bullying or threatening behaviour; inappropriate internet sites; or computers for unacceptable personal use during lessons. It also identifies potentially harmful situations, such as internet grooming.

The implementation of Securus is part of Staffordshire County Council’s wider commitment to e-safety. The Council’s Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) works closely with partners to adopt a strategic approach to e-safety that protects and educates children, young people and parents. County Councillor Peter Beresford, Cabinet member of children and young people explains: “It is imperative that our schools and other agencies that are involved in the protection of children have the appropriate processes and resources in place to effectively identify and respond to e-safety issues. Securus is one of the resources that will help Staffordshire County Council achieve its e-safety aims, and in time we endeavour to roll this computer monitoring solution out further to other settings, including libraries and youth centres.”

Sally-Ann Griffiths, director of e-safety at Securus, said: “In today’s 21st century educational environment, children and young people use ICT in various forms both in school and beyond the school gates, and as such it is vital that they are able to use these resources in a safe and responsible manner.

Staffordshire County Council is one of a growing number of local authorities that are implementing computer monitoring systems. Securus has already been adopted by a number of schools in Staffordshire, so to win the contract to extend implementation to another 386 schools is another major achievement for us.”