Talk with your children about online behaviour: Mayor Cleveland

Photo by Cecilia Nasmith

By: Dan Jones

In light of recent swatting calls to Cobourg schools, homes and businesses, Mayor Lucas Cleveland is recommending parents talk with their children about responsible online behaviour.

“Talk to them about responsible and safe online behaviour. Talk about the dangers and risks. The online world carries real-world consequences, and those consequences landed in our school hallways this week in a very real way,” Cleveland said in a public statement.

Authorities state Cobourg has been targeted over the past two weeks, with investigators suspecting the incidents are linked to online exploitation of youth through interactions on social media, gaming, and online chat platforms.

“Online extortion and swatting are serious crimes with real consequences. False emergency reports divert critical resources and create dangerous situations for residents and first responders. We recognize the fear and disruption caused by large-scale emergency responses, particularly in sensitive locations such as schools, and we appreciate the community’s ongoing patience and understanding as we manage these impacts and work to bring those responsible to justice,” explained Chief Paul VandeGraaf.

“We want to reassure parents, students, and community members that police will continue to respond to all reported threats with urgency and care to ensure the safety of our schools and community. We encourage youth and families to talk openly, access available supports, and report concerning behaviour.”

Local investigators are working with their provincial and national counterparts to identify those responsible for the threatening calls.

While Cobourg is responding, Port Hope Police are taking steps to prepare possible swatting incidents. Chief Tim Farquharson said his team is creating evacuation plans for local schools.

Anyone with information on these incidents is asked to contact police.