POLICE are advising parents to play close attention to their children’s internet activity after recent cyber bullying incidents in the West Devon area.

Police have said there has been an increase of cyber bullying online, including one incident where a YouTube video was set up and broadcast by children under ten-years-old, which showed them telling another child of similar age to commit suicide.

Due to the nature of the incident and the age of the children no further information can be shared of this particular crime but police want to take the opportunity to remind parents to keep a close eye on their children’s activity on the internet.

A police spokesperson said: ‘Children have been setting up their own YouTube account and posting cyber bullying videos that have content which is encouraging other children to self harm and commit suicide. These are very young children and parents need to be aware of what their children are doing. Do you know what your children are doing on the internet?

‘With these type of incidents we will deal with them robustly.

‘These children are exposing themselves to these sites and the parents must have knowledge of this.’For more information on how to spot cyber bullying and advice on how to handle it, read this week's edition of the Times.