'Keep The Clause' Letter to the PM

Keep The Clause

Matthew Scott, Kent Police and Crime Commissioner, is asking members of the public, professionals and others to join him in sending a joint letter to the Prime Minister calling on him to support a ban on social media for children under the age of sixteen and to remove smartphones from schools. The House of Lords is due to conclude debating the Bill next week (Tuesday 3 February) and we need to ensure that the amendment is not removed.

Data recently obtained from Kent Police shows that there is criminality that needs to be addressed, as well as the impact on mental health and wellbeing. In twelve months to November 2025, there were 1810 crimes where the victim and perpetrator were under 16 and had an online marker. This included 83 incidents of domestic abuse online. It is likely that this is under-reported and in addition, only includes cases with an online marker. But should be a warning to us all of what is happening online.

LETTER TO THE PM

It is more important now than ever that we all work together to make our children safe online.

There is growing evidence of the impact of social media on their mental health, behaviour and school performance, as well as the volume of crimes impacting young people.

Data published by Kent’s Police and Crime Commissioner shows that in twelve months to November 2025, there were 1810 crimes where the victim and perpetrator were under 16 and had an online marker. This included 83 incidents of domestic abuse online. It is likely that this is under-reported but should be a warning to us all of what is happening online.

Parents, teachers, Police and Crime Commissioners, Members of Parliament, Peers, health and child protection professionals, charities and countless others are calling for a ban on smartphones in schools, and for social media to be restricted to prevent access by those under 16. 

 The House of Lords has passed a cross-party amendment to help enable this. Amendment 94D, inserted under Clause 27 of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools act, “would require the Secretary of State to take action to promote children’s wellbeing in relation to their use of social media by commissioning advice from the Chief Medical Officers and introducing regulations to prevent under 16s from accessing social media.”

We believe that this should remain as part of the legislation and ask that you support it staying in the Bill both in the House of Lords, and when it returns to the House of Commons.

 In addition, in the Kent Police and Crime Commissioner’s 2024 online safety survey, 80% of parents supported a full ban on smartphones in schools. We hope that you will support this too.

 We look forward to your reply.

Yours sincerely

Matthew Scott, Kent Police and Crime Commissioner, and the following:

The letter has now been sent and received 865 signatures from Kent residents.