A campaign to educate parents, carers and children about the dangers of social media will launch this weekend.

The I Didn’t Know Child Sexual Exploitation Campaign will be launched on Sunday, March 18, for National CSE Awareness Day.

The police will be working with Essex Safeguarding Children Board, Essex County Council and Southend and Thurrock councils, to inform parents, carers and children about the potential dangers of social media and the privacy settings available on social media apps to help reduce the risk of online exploitation.

For each day of the campaign, information will be published on social media using the hashtag #KnowAboutCSE, to inform parents of the steps they can take to make their child’s social media secure.

Det Supt Jason Hendy said: “In over 60 per cent of the child sexual exploitation cases we investigate, we find the victim has been targeted through social media or online.

“This makes the need for online safety education a priority.

“We want to reach children before they start using social media, so they’re aware of how to keep themselves safe online.”

Mum-of-two Mary Divell, of Long Road, Canvey, said: “It’s scary to know that your children could end up interacting with anyone on Facebook and I want to know how I can keep an eye on these things.”

In December last year, Essex Police announced they were launching a project to make a short film about teenager Breck Bednar who was groomed and murdered.

The force is hopeful that it will help raise awareness among boys of the dangers of child sexual exploitation.

In 2014, Breck, who was 14, was lured to a flat in Grays by Lewis Daynes, 18, after they met online.

All material to support this campaign, can be found by visiting: www.essex.police.uk/onlinecse.

A police spokesman added: “Tackling child sexual exploitation requires a commitment by all of us, so please join the campaign to help support communities in understanding child sexual exploitation, how to recognise it, and what to do to get support.”