Thousands of teenagers in Darlington are being targeted by a new internet safety campaign following the murder of Ashleigh Hall, a 17-year-old student who was killed by a man she met online.
Ashleigh Hall, from Darlington, was raped and murdered in 2009 by Peter Chapman, a convicted sex offender she encountered on a social networking site. Chapman was jailed for life in March for the crime.
In response to the tragedy, Darlington Council has developed educational materials and software designed to teach young people about online safety. The e-safety initiative aims to reach the borough's 14,000 teenagers.
Cyndi Hughes, Darlington Council's cabinet member for children and young people, said: 'Ashleigh's death was a tragedy for everyone in Darlington. We took action by introducing new and fit for purpose curriculum materials and the e-Safety software. It is used to protect and prepare young people in Darlington's schools for many of the challenges they will face in the virtual world. Ashleigh has left a lasting legacy.'
