COLLEGE lecturers are going back to school to prevent their students being abused or exploited by groomers and paedophiile rings over the Internet.

Staff at Blackburn College are the first in the country to undertake the qualification which brings them up-to-date with the tactics child exploitations gangs use to snare their victims.

Initially geared at lecturers in business, computing and technology, they will learn ways to help young people stay safe on social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and MSN messenger.

This will then be used in the college to help students use social networking sites responsibly and deal with increasing cases of cyber-bullying.

Students would then be able to pass on the advice to younger siblings, parents and friends.

During the three module Internet safety course teachers learn how to become aware of and identify potential threats, gain greater control on privacy settings on computers and personal sites and they will be given safety tips that can be passed onto students.

The course ends with an exam.

Ian Clinton, principal at Blackburn College, said: “As a college we have a responsibility and duty to protect our students in every sphere we can.

“The internet is an exciting and powerful tool and it is vital that our staff understand the risks that it carries.

The qualification will provide the knowledge and tools to help safeguard our young people online to the best of our ability.”

Lecturers are being taught by a specialist team from Newcastle University.