A council in Zuid-Holland has devised a game to teach children from the age of eight about the dangers of cybercrime, in the hope they will pass on the knowledge to their parents.

The initiative in Krimpenerwaard comes in a response to a survey in which people voiced their fears about the spread of online fraud. Mayor Bart Cazemier said children were often more computer savvy than their parents and able to learn faster.

‘It’s very difficult for us as a local authority, which is why we’re pleased that we can get children involved through this game. There’s been a huge amount of interest,’ he told Omroep West. ‘We hope they can make their parents and grandparents more streetwise.’

Last month all children in the last four years of primary school received a letter from the mayor and police inviting them to play the game, in which they answer questions and perform tasks in the role of a ‘cyber cop’.

One of the players, 11-year-old Keano from Stolwijk, said: ‘My father knows everything, but I can teach my mother a few things, like not clicking on strange links.’

Another young resident, eight-year-old Lieve, said: ‘I wanted to be a detective, but now I’ve played this game I want to be something else: a cyber cop.’