Cromwell College on alert after Snapchat scare

Pupils at Cromwell's high school are being told to be on alert for strangers around the school's grounds after a scare on Wednesday involving a young female pupil and an adult on a popular messaging app.

In an email to parents today, Cromwell College principal Mason Stretch says extra staff will be on duty at break times and police have been asked to show an additional presence in the area in response to the incident.

The incident involved a year nine girl who connected with an adult on Snapchat, an instant messaging app where pictures and messages are usually only available for a short time before they disappear.

In an earlier email, on Wednesday evening, Mr Stretch says the family contacted the school to say the child had "inadvertently connected" with the adult via the app.

"This person has been tracking the student on Snapchat today and there has been concerning communication received," Mr Stretch says.

"What is also very concerning is we understand this person was on or near school grounds today."

He says the incident was reported by the family to police.

Police tell Crux they are making enquiries in response to a report received regarding two young people being sent "inappropriate material".

"We would like to remind parents to have conversations with young people about staying safe online, including around connecting with people they don’t know on social media," a spokesperson says.

Mr Stretch is also asking families to continue to support their young people as they interact on social media.

"This incident also highlights the harm that having cell phones at school can cause and why they are banned at school," he says.

A pupil in year nine is typically 12 to 14 years old.

Find out more about keeping children and young people safe online through Netsafe: https://netsafe.org.nz/children-and-young-people

Main image (Facebook): Cromwell College has asked for an additional police presence after a scare involving a young female pupil and an unknown adult.