Child Safety on the Internet

Thank you for your email. Your enquiry will be registered and dealt with under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. You may expect to receive our response within 20 working days of the date of receipt.

Law & Licensing
East Lothian Council
John Muir House
Haddington
EH41 3HA
Tel: 01620 827623
Fax: 01620 827438
Email: [East Lothian Council request email]

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Our Ref: 2009/586

Dear Ms Fitzsimons

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION (SCOTLAND) ACT 2002

Following your enquiry of 21 October, I am now able to respond on behalf
of East Lothian Council (ELC):

1. Internet Safety Education provided as part of the school curriculum.

We have a programme of units called "Keeping Myself Esafe" that has been
introduced at Primary 5/6 level. Because the programme is structured in
units, schools can opt to deliver it in it's entirety, as a programme or
as modules. The Primary 6 "Keeping Myself Esafe" programme also has an
element of internet safety contained in it.

Secondary schools also have a "Keeping Myself Esafe" pack but in addition,
deliver CEOP produced materials to pupils. Guidance staff in every
secondary school have received CEOP training.

In addition, the authority has produced internet safety guidelines for
pupils. Every classroom has been provided with a poster to display and
every child has been provided with a leaflet explaining expectations and
their responsibilities.

The authority is also introducing courses for teachers on digital literacy
to support the way in which they teach children using the internet. The
materials produced by LTScotland will be used to structure this.

The authority also considers it important to work with parents to make
them more aware of the benefits and risks of the internet. Talks have
taken place in every cluster to engage parents in discussion around this
matter. These talks have been held in association with CEOP trained
police.

Our local CEOP trained police officers are also involved in giving talks
to pupils when requested by schools.

2. Internet Filtering

Do the primary and secondary schools within your authority have internet
filtering in place?

Yes, they all have filtering in place.

If yes, what tools do you use? For example Hardware or Software?

Software.

If yes, what is the name of your internet filtering supplier and when was
their contract last renewed/due for renewal?

Whilst I can confirm that the contract renewal is due in December 2009, I
am unable to provide the name of the supplier. Although East Lothian
Council does hold this information we believe that it is exempt under the
following sections of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act :

Section 30(c) - Prejudice to Effective Conduct of Public Affairs

Information is exempt information if its disclosure under this Act would
otherwise prejudice substantially, or be likely to prejudice
substantially, the effective conduct of public affairs

Section 31(1) - National Security and Defence

Information is exempt information if exemption from section 1(1) is
required for the purpose of safeguarding national security

If we were to publish this information it is likely that our IT security
systems would be seriously compromised and the Council would be unable to
satisfactorily protect its systems and data from corruption or access by
unauthorised agents.

In the event of this happening, the Council’s ability to offer an
effective public service and to meet its wider objectives and purpose
would be compromised due to the disruption caused by the disclosure and
the diversion of resources in managing the impact of disclosure. It is
also possible that the large amount of personal data and sensitive
personal data held on the Council’s systems could be accessed or
corrupted and this would further affect our ability to provide vital
services to individuals as well as breaching the rights of data subjects
laid out in the Data Protection Act. In addition, the release of this
information could be used as a stepping stone for "hackers" attempting to
attack Central Government and, ultimately, national security. If we made
public the information being requested, it would give hackers information
that otherwise should be unavailable to them.
We are obliged to consider the public interest in both releasing and
withholding this information. The public interest in this information
being released is that it would show that ELC is open and transparent in
its dealings with the public. It could also provide information about our
security systems that would either reassure people or show where there is
room for improvement. However, we believe that there is a greater public
interest in ensuring that our systems and data are fully protected from
potential attack and interference. The population of East Lothian relies
on the Council to run services, some of which are essential to the
wellbeing of vulnerable individuals, and it is crucial that nothing is
allowed to compromise the continuing ability to do this. The nuisance and
disruption in reconstituting the information held by the Council would
impact on people’ lives within the Council’s administrative area.
Also, if people’s data were to be accessed by unauthorised external
agents, it could cause them damage, distress or loss.

3. Internet Filtering Breaches

Have any of the Schools within the past 24 months experienced a
breach of Internet filtering where children were able to access
pornography or Indecent images. Please provide details of School
Type(Primary or Secondary), Date of Breach and Type of Unsuitable material
accessed.

Nothing of this nature has been reported to IT within the last 24
months

If a breach of security occurred how was your authority notified?
For example, by a parent, by the school, through an automated alert
provided by hardware/software supplier.

Not applicable.

If you are dissatisfied with the way your request has been handled or with
the information we have provided, you are entitled to request that we
undertake an internal review. We must receive such a request within 40
working days of the date of this notice. A request to review our decision
must be in writing (e-mail is acceptable) or another permanent format. We
will then have 20 working days from the date we receive your request in
order to complete our review and give you our decision. The review will
be conducted by the Chief Executive or another official nominated by him.
Please address this request to:

The Chief Executive
East Lothian Council
John Muir House
Haddington
EH41 3HA

If you are still not satisfied with our decision following the review
process, then you may ask the Office of the Scottish Information
Commissioner (OSIC) to investigate the matter. You may contact OSIC at:

Scottish Information Commissioner
Kinburn Castle
Doubledykes Road
St Andrews
Fife
KY16 9DS

Telephone: 01334 464610
Fax: 01334 464611
E-mail: [email address]

Information about East Lothian Council’s complaints procedure can be
found at:
[1]http://www.eastlothian.gov.uk/site/scrip...

Yours sincerely

Shelley Neville
Law & Licensing
East Lothian Council
John Muir House
Haddington
EH41 3HA

Tel: 01620 827623
Fax: 01620 827438
Email: [East Lothian Council request email]

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