North Wales PCC Launches Online Safety Drive
- Campaign launched 4 August 2026 across North Wales
- Partnership with Get Safe Online and Police
- Focus on consent and checking information sources
- Aims to reduce online harassment and abuse
- PCC urges residents to think before posting
North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner launched a major new campaign today to promote safer and more considerate behaviour across the region.
The initiative, developed in partnership with Get Safe Online and North Wales Police, urges residents to treat the internet with the same respect they afford people in person.
Officials said the drive focuses on changing user habits rather than just enforcing laws, targeting the root causes of online abuse and harassment.
The campaign asks internet users to pause and think before they post, avoiding harmful content and treating others with basic kindness.
It represents a significant shift in local policing strategy, placing preventative education at the forefront of the fight against cyber-enabled crime.
The Police and Crime Commissioner emphasised that online actions have real-world consequences.
This initiative is not merely about avoiding criminality but about fostering a community standard of digital decency.
The campaign launch comes amid rising concerns nationally about the impact of social media on mental health and community cohesion.
North Wales is the first region in the UK to roll out this specific phase of the wider 'Online Respect' strategy this year.
- The campaign launched on Tuesday, 4 August 2026.
- It targets all internet users in North Wales.
- Partners include Get Safe Online and North Wales Police.
- Core themes are respect, consent, and truthfulness.
Harmful comments or reckless sharing online can destroy reputations and ruin lives within hours.
The Commissioner stated that this campaign aims to give residents the tools to navigate that space safely and responsibly.
Local authorities have observed a sharp increase in reports of online harassment and misuse of private images over the past two years.
This trend prompted the collaboration with Get Safe Online, a leading authority on digital safety.
The organisation provides the technical backbone and educational resources for the campaign.
Their involvement ensures that the advice given to the public is not only ethically sound but practically robust against evolving digital threats.
The initiative is not a reaction to a single specific incident but a response to a general deterioration in online discourse.
Police data indicates that a significant portion of youth-related crime now originates or escalates on social media platforms.
By addressing the behaviour early, the police hope to reduce the number of cases that escalate to criminal investigations.
Residents will see the campaign across social media channels, local radio, and community noticeboards over the coming weeks.
If you wouldn't say it to someone's face, do not post it online.
This simple heuristic is the cornerstone of the new guidance being issued to the public.
Consent and Privacy: The New Digital Etiquette
A central pillar of the new campaign is the strict warning against posting photos or videos of others without their explicit permission.
This practice, often dismissed as harmless fun, can lead to serious privacy violations and significant distress for victims.
The Police and Crime Commissioner highlighted that sharing images of people without consent is a major invasion of privacy and can sometimes constitute a criminal offence.
In the digital age, a photo shared in Wrexham can be viewed by millions worldwide within minutes.
Once an image is online, controlling who sees it or how it is used becomes almost impossible.
The campaign urges residents to consider the long-term impact of sharing content that features friends, family, or even strangers in the background.
Officials pointed out that this is particularly relevant in the context of children and young people.
Parents often share photos of their children without realising the potential future ramifications for the child's digital footprint.
The guidance suggests that parents should pause and ask themselves if their child would want that image to be public when they are older.
- Posting photos without consent is a key focus.
- Images can be misused once shared online.
- The advice applies to all age groups.
- Privacy violations can lead to criminal charges.
The legal landscape around image-based abuse has tightened significantly in recent years.
Laws regarding revenge porn and the distribution of private sexual images are now strictly enforced.
However, the North Wales campaign goes beyond illegal content to address behaviour that is simply disrespectful or invasive.
Experts noted that the concept of consent is often poorly understood in digital spaces.
Many people assume that if a photo was taken in a public place, it is fair game for distribution.
The campaign seeks to challenge this misconception and establish a new social norm where permission is the default requirement for sharing.
North Wales Police have dealt with numerous cases where shared images led to bullying, harassment, and even violence.
By discouraging the non-consensual sharing of images, the force aims to prevent these conflicts before they start.
This focus on personal dignity sets the North Wales initiative apart from more generic cyber-safety campaigns.
It moves the conversation from technical security—like passwords and firewalls—to behavioural security.
The technology is often neutral, but the way humans use it can cause harm.
Changing that human behaviour is the primary objective.
Battle Against Misinformation in North Wales
Misinformation continues to pose a significant threat to community safety, and the new campaign directly addresses this by urging residents to check the reliability of information before sharing it.
False rumours can spread rapidly online, causing unnecessary panic, damaging reputations, and even leading to real-world public order issues.
The Police and Crime Commissioner stressed that sharing unverified information is irresponsible and potentially dangerous.
During the pandemic, North Wales saw several instances where false health advice and conspiracy theories caused confusion and hindered public health efforts.
While the immediate crisis has passed, the infrastructure for spreading fake news remains in place.
The campaign aims to inoculate the public against this by promoting media literacy.
Residents are being advised to utilise trusted sources, such as official government websites or established news outlets, rather than relying on unverified social media posts.
The guidance suggests a simple three-step check: consider the source, look for evidence, and verify the story elsewhere before hitting the share button.
- Misinformation can cause real-world panic.
- Residents must verify sources before sharing.
- The campaign promotes media literacy.
- False rumours can damage community cohesion.
Police officials noted that misinformation often targets vulnerable groups, including the elderly and those with limited English proficiency.
Scammers and bad actors exploit these groups by spreading convincing lies designed to steal money or personal data.
The campaign includes specific materials designed to help these vulnerable residents spot the signs of a scam or a fake news story.
The speed at which information travels today means that corrections often lag far behind the initial lie.
By the time a rumour is debunked, the damage is often already done.
Therefore, the campaign focuses on prevention rather than cure.
The goal is to create a community of 'critical consumers' who naturally question what they see online.
This aspect of the campaign is not about policing opinion but about verifying facts.
Everyone is entitled to their view, but they are not entitled to their own facts.
Ensuring that the information circulating in North Wales communities is accurate is vital for maintaining trust and social order.
Local businesses are also being targeted by this part of the initiative.
False reviews and malicious rumours can destroy a local business overnight.
The campaign encourages residents to support local enterprise by ensuring their online interactions are fair and truthful.
Economic stability in the region is, in part, dependent on a healthy and honest digital environment.
Get Safe Online Partners with Local Police
The collaboration with Get Safe Online provides the campaign with technical authority and national reach.
Get Safe Online is a widely recognised non-profit organisation that has been providing advice on online safety for nearly two decades.
Their involvement ensures that the advice given to North Wales residents is up-to-date with the latest threats and technologies.
A spokesperson for Get Safe Online praised the proactive approach taken by the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner.
They noted that while police forces often have to react to crimes after they happen, this campaign attempts to build resilience before harm occurs.
The partnership will see the distribution of leaflets, online resources, and workshops across the region.
The organisation has previously worked with other UK police forces, but the North Wales initiative is noted for its specific focus on 'considerate behaviour' rather than just technical fraud prevention.
This holistic approach reflects a maturing understanding of what online safety actually means.
It is not just about protecting your computer; it is about protecting yourself and others from psychological harm.
- Get Safe Online is a key campaign partner.
- The focus is on preventative education.
- Resources include leaflets and workshops.
- Advice covers technical and behavioural safety.