The true face of bullying

In September 2007 the battered face of Bethany James stared out from newspapers across Britain.

The photo was taken in hospital by her mother, Tracey, who said 'The picture is shocking. I want people to know what the reality of bullying means.'

After four years of taunts and insults, abusive texts and e-mails she was attacked near her home by two girls from her school in Bradford, West Yorkshire, who kicked and punched her, knocked her to the ground and stamped on her head.

Bethany’s injuries were horrific, her nose and mouth were lacerated, her face was badly bruised and lumps of hair had been pulled out.

Anyone who thinks that bullying, of any kind, is acceptable should remember the face of Bethany James, the true face of bullying.

Cyber-bullying. Don’t laugh at it, don’t be part of it.

Networking web-sites including MySpace, Bebo and YouTube have joined the "Laugh at it and you're part of it" campaign to discourage cyber-bullying, something that affects as many as one in three high school children - and increasing numbers of teachers.

Cyber-bullying is especially stressful because it continues beyond the school gates, invading personal time and private space, while the bully remains anonymous. It is also a bigger problem for girls; as an electronic version of spreading rumours, girls are more likely to be victims than boys.

The growth of social networking sites has seen cyber-bullying moving on from abusive texts and e-mails to the posting of offensive video clips, personal information or impersonations on the internet, and in the worst cases videos showing intimidation and physical violence filmed on camera phones.

Now the main networking operators are joining forces with the Government in a campaign to purge violent ‘happy slapping’ content and communicate the anti-bullying message.

The sites are running pop ups with the laugh at it ad, while the Government is bringing in new legal measures and guidelines for schools.

The Education Bill currently going through Parliament will give the courts new powers to issue ‘parenting orders’ against the parents of bullies, requiring them to attend parenting classes or to impose a £1000 fine, if they fail to stop their behaviour. Cyber-bullies themselves could also be prosecuted under malicious communications laws which can carry prison sentences of up to six months.

The Bill will also give teachers the legal right to discipline bullies, monitor e-mails sent from school computers, and confiscate mobile phones. The guidelines will help schools to draw up anti-cyber-bullying policies and implement practical measures such as not responding to malicious texts or emails, saving the evidence and reporting them to phone and internet service providers, and protecting passwords, phone numbers and other personal information on the internet.