Statement on cyber bullying guidance

The Professional Association of Teachers (PAT) has  welcomed the measures to tackle cyber-bullying announced by the DCSF today (21 September 2007).

PAT Solicitor David Brierley said:

"Bullying is not just about physically hurting others.  Children and adults can be frightened or intimidated by threatening messages sent by mobiles or by e-mail, or published online. 

"This is an issue of great concern to many of our members and was the subject of a high profile debate at our recent Annual Conference.

"Cyber-bullying is an invasion of privacy from which it can be difficult to escape.  The victims of cyber-bullying need protection, and we hope that these guidelines and the campaign will make a significant step towards doing that.

"We are particularly pleased that the guidance deals with the  escalating problem of online abuse of school staff as well as pupils, and backs  schools when they need to take decisive action such as confiscating equipment.

"These guidelines offer practical ways to help parents, schools and pupils deal with ‘cyber-bullies’. We hope that the Web sites concerned will in future act quickly to remove offensive or malicious material.

"We would also like to see similar guidance to cover the rest of the UK".