A FARNHAM-based group committed to educating people about the dangers of online grooming is planning a UK tour this year.

Safebook, which was founded three years ago, aims to set up workshops raising awareness about social media safety for children.

The group is run by individuals who have themselves been victimised or have loved ones who have, and hope to educate parents and teachers about the issue.

Safebook founder Shane Brannigan described the rise in online grooming as an “epidemic”, and said the group is dedicated to raising awareness and giving practical advice on how to keep children safe online.

“We need to give these young people the tools to survive,” he added.

Mr Brannigan, who describes himself as a “Child Protection Enforcer”, has come under criticism in the past for his attempts to catch paedophiles.

The self-styled paedophile hunter poses as underage girls online and talks to men, before meeting them and handing them over to the police.

But Hampshire police said about Mr Brannigan in 2016 that his vigilante actions give suspects “the opportunity to destroy evidence before the police can investigate them” and “can divert significant resources” away from investigating child sex abuse.

Responding to another vigilante paedophile sting at Farnham Station in April 2017, in which Mr Brannigan was not involved, Surrey Police said in a statement: “Surrey Police would urge people not to take matters into their own hands and to report any allegations of crime to Surrey Police to fully investigate.

“Social media users are also asked to consider the judicial process before sharing anything online which could harm any future court proceedings.”

For more information see the Safebook Tour 2018 Facebook page, or alternatively visit www.safebook.me.uk.