“WHO can tell me, what is cyber bullying?”

A classroom full of children sit attentively as the question is put to them. One lifts up her hand. “I think it is when you make unfunny jokes on Snapchat or something,” she says.

Other pupils at Farfield Primary School in Reevy Crescent, Buttershaw, make similar suggestions, before PSCO Stephen Atkinson, who is standing in front of them, provides the answer. “It is bullying with technology,” he says, asking the nine and ten-year-olds how many of them have a mobile phone.

Three-quarters of the year five pupils do, with around the same number having iPhones and half accessing WhatsApp messenger.

Next, the Bradford district cyber co-ordinator asks who can be cyber bullied. “Anyone can, and at any time” he says, “It is 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It is not just when school ends.”

For children growing up today, the internet plays a major role. Young people spend a high proportion of their time gaming, chatting to friends, doing homework or buying goods online.

From a relatively early age, they are completely immersed in the culture of the web, spending a large online presence can leave them vulnerable to the darker side of the web - to cyber bullying and even criminal activity.

Stephen is one of a team of officers who, in a pioneering project, visit primary schools throughout the district to speak to children about E-safety.

As well as cyber bullying, the six-week programme includes social media, cyber safeguarding, laws surrounding the internet and possible consequences for breaking those laws.

Since November last year Stephen and the other five team members have delivered 1018 E-safety sessions in 94 schools, involving 15,076 pupils.

“When you are sending messages, think about what you are sending and how it will be received,” Stephen tells the class. He also asks pupils how they might know if a friend was being bullied.

“They might look sad,” said one. “They might not want to look at their phone,” another suggested.

“That’s right,” says Stephen, outlining a number of signs to look out for. “You know your friends better than anyone. They may become secretive or protective of their digital life or want to stop using their computer or phone.”

His hard-hitting presentation includes a video clip of a number of celebrities including former X-Factor judge Sharon Osbourne and footballer Rio Ferdinand, who have themselves encountered cyber bullies.

It also includes some startling statistics: 19 per cent of cyberbullying victims attempt suicide.

The session also looks at who can help. “Parents, carers, school, older siblings, the police, anyone you know and trust,” says Steve, before looking at preventative measure such as password protection and privacy settings.

Pupil Grace Clitheroe, nine, says she has learned things she would not have known before. “I knew that cyber bullying could hurt people’s feeling but did not know that people can be fined so much money or go to prison.”

The penalties are wide-ranging. Under legislation covered by the Malicious Communications Act 1988, Protection from Harassment Act 1997 and Communications Act 2003, anyone found guilty of cyber bullying could be fined up to £5,000 or go to prison for up to six months.

Ten-year-old Sam Watson adds: “I don’t have a mobile phone but some of my friends do. It is really good to know how to keep away from the dangers.”

Year five class teacher and acting head at the school Katie Kirton believes the sessions are invaluable. “Children are so exposed to online risks that we have to safeguard them as much as we can.

“Cyber safety is on the curriculum but because of the increasing amount of time youngsters spend online, having Stephen’s visits really get the messages across. He used to be our community support officer, so the children are familiar with him - they see him almost as a member of staff with the authority of the police. They know that he is here to help.”

Higher level teaching assistant Bev Wiles, believes the programme bring great benefits. “It encourages them to think about how they use the internet - it will hopefully prevent them from using sites that are harmful and known when and how to use it to their advantage.”

She adds: “They have grown up with the internet - they tell me things about it that I did not know.”

Staff training sessions and workshops for parents and carers are also held to engage them in cyber awareness and pass on information as to how to monitor inappropriate use and protect children.