A new mobile game starring Staffordshire police dogs which aims to help kids stay safe online is proving a hit with over 600 downloads in its first two days and 1,500 referrals to online safety websites including CEOP’s Safety Centre and Beat Bullying.
The ‘Kash Dash’ app, which has been designed by the Office of Staffordshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, features police dogs Emma and Jasper, and former police dog and force mascot Kash.
The game can be downloaded for free on Android and Apple via or by searching ‘Kash Dash’ on the online stores.
With game-play similar to the popular mobile game ‘Flappy Birds’, the aim of ‘Kash Dash’ is to help youngsters stay safe online via onscreen messaging about cyber-bullying, stranger danger and privacy settings.
Useful links also provide information about local police and an option to sign up to email alerts. At the end of each round, the player gets a score which might see them promoted to a higher police rank.
Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Ellis, said: “We must find ways to better connect youngsters with information on how to stay safe online. Rather than asking them to find their way to us this game takes vital safety messages to them using technology which is familiar.
“We need to be smarter in how we engage with youngsters and this new game will do that whilst communicating clear messages to help protect them. It’s fun but includes serious messages”.
Chief Constable Jane Sawyers said: “Online safety is increasingly a major concern for parents and educating children in this area is a priority for the force.
“Police dogs are always popular with pupils when they visit schools as part of our work in local communities so combining them with online safety messages is a winning combination.”
