Bullying and Harassment
What is bullying?
Are you or someone you know...
- being called names?
- being pushed, hassled or threatened?
- being beaten up, spat at or kicked?
- having your things taken or damaged?
- being made fun of or called names by anyone?
If the answer is Yes, that is bullying. This includes any name-calling or threats received via text message, emails or social networking sites like Facebook or MySpace.
Bullying often is a criminal offence. Report it.
What is harassment?
Harassment is any unwelcome comments (written or spoken) or conduct which:
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violates an individual's dignity; and/or
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creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment.
Harassment can take many forms including violence, threats, abuse, and damage to property. It can involve verbal abuse and name calling, offensive graffiti or post and can be received via text message, emails or social networking sites like Facebook or MySpace.
It may cause physical injury, mental stress, anxiety, or insecurity. It can also occur for a variety of reasons, including race, religious belief, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.
Harassment is a criminal offence. If you are being harassed, report it.
What can I do about it?
- Discussing your problems will make a difference and help you to think through how to sort them out.
- Let someone know what is happening. This may include friends, parents, a carer, a teacher, an organisation or the police.
- Fill out a self-reporting form, using the form contained on this website.
- Report what is happening online, using the facility on the 'Reporting online' page.
Tell someone if you are being bullied or harassed, or know someone who is, and if it is because of disability, gender identity, race, religion or sexual orientation.
Don't be afraid to tell someone and don't suffer in silence: if you cannot get anyone to listen to you, contact a support organisation who can offer you advice and support. A list is included on the 'Organisations that can help' page.
Not everyone will experience bullying or harassment at home, at work, in education or in their social time. If it does happen, it is important you tell someone. If you do not think you can tell anyone you know, you can tell someone by using a self-reporting form or by reporting online. Every report is taken seriously and could help to stop you, and others, suffering from bullying and harassment.
How will the Police treat a bullying or harassment incident?
Don't be afraid to report bullying or harassment to the police. You will be taken seriously. The police deal with this regularly and can offer you help and support.
If the bullying or harassment is targeted at you because of your disability, gender identity, race, religion or sexual orientation, this type of incident is a 'hate incident' or 'hate crime'.
What you tell the police will be dealt with sensitively and professionally.
If you do not want to report it to the police, contact a support
agency. Details can be found on this website on the 'Organisations that can help'
page.