SCHOOL pupils in Inverclyde are the first in the country to get direct online access to the police.

In the first programme of its kind, local area commander Chief Inspector Paul Cameron has linked up with education chiefs to give young people a way to report crime anonymously.

It is part of the 'Fearless' campaign, run by charity Crimestoppers, which aims to make children feel safer at home, in school and in their community.

The young people can use their digital learning platform GLOW to raise any concerns they may have and speak in complete confidence.

Inverclyde's school campus police officer and pupils hope it will help tackle some of the biggest issues facing youngsters, including bullying on social media.

Campus police officer Kirsty Boyd, who helped launch the initiative at Clydeview Academy, said: "This is an important step and a great tool we can now use.

"I have been involved in community policing for 20 years and in schools for seven years.

"I think most of our time is now taken up with social media - it is the biggest challenge facing us.

"Anything that can help young people report crime is important."

She was joined by Clydeview Academy deputy head boy Alexander Darroch who helps younger pupils in his various roles at the school.

The sixth year pupil told the Telegraph: "It is very intimidating for pupils to report something to a teacher or the police so this is a good way of addressing that.

"During Covid we have all become very familiar with the GLOW platform and I think pupils will feel confident using it in this way.

"In my roles in school I have been approached by pupils about concerns they have and we find ways to help them.

"We have leadership teams, house captains and ambassadors who help pupils throughout the school.

"I think social media is definitely the biggest area of conflict."

Crimestoppers aim to use the Fearless campaign to speak direct to young people on platforms they use every day, like social media app Snapchat.

The initiative is solely aimed at young people to allow them to report crime anonymously 24 hours a day and access a range of useful help and advice.

Ch Insp Cameron said: "Having a trusted, secure and reliable crime prevention resource like Fearless available to young people in Inverclyde is invaluable.

"The Crimestoppers charity is a valued and trusted partner for Police Scotland and their contribution to helping keep people and neighbourhoods safe is highly significant.

“We’ve worked hard with Inverclyde Council to ensure that Fearless is well cemented within education across the area because the anonymous information we receive is vital to policing and communities.”

Crimestoppers are keen to reassure pupils of the anonymity involved in Fearless.

Lyndsay McDade, the charity's national youth projects co-ordinator, said: “Over the last two years we’ve worked tirelessly with Inverclyde Council’s education service, police and local youth organisations operating across the area to ensure that young people are aware of our service.

“We can’t trace your IP addresses or any contact details that could identify you.

"Nobody will ever know the information came from you, but it will make a positive difference to your community."

*Young people can find out more information about the youth service via the fearless.org website.