Every school in the county should join the battle against online sexual predators and bullies by appointing 'champions' to prevent children becoming victims, says a council report.

That is one of several key recommendations of a report into Children’s Internet Safety, carried out by a Buckinghamshire County Council scrutiny committee.

The report follows a three-month probe by the Council’s Education, Skills and Children’s Services Select Committee.

Committee chairman Valerie Letheren said: "We are, of course, aware that some of these actions will cost money. I make no apologies for that - because the human cost of doing nothing is immeasurable.

"We have all been sickened in recent times by the various high-profile sex and cyber bullying scandals that have emerged nationally, and we know police across the land are doing their utmost to protect young people. However, despite all of this, our young are at risk as never before by a host of unknown dangers on the internet.

"What hit us most during our inquiry was the lack of knowledge of some parents and teachers about this issue. Some are simply unaware of just what their children are doing online, and it’s time we all faced up to the enormity of this issue."

Members received evidence from key witnesses such as the police and computer software giants McAfee, part of Intel Security. Among the main recommendations from councillors were:

• That the county council should designate a lead officer for children’s cyber safety;

• Encouraging schools to ensure staff are trained to deal with new technologies, and that a lead governor and lead member of staff are appointed to deal with cyber safety;

• Ensuring all parents, schools and children in the county have access to online resources to promote online safety;

• Raising public awareness of the risks that youngsters face when going on the internet;

• Setting up a cyber safety conference this year to refresh the strategy across the county and ensure all relevant organisations sign up to help battle the problem of online danger.

* To see the report that Val Letheren will take to Cabinet for approval, go to: https://democracy.buckscc.gov.uk/documents/s55783/CIS%20Report%20FINAL.pdf