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BULLYING


It is an act of continuous, repeated and intentional abuse by one person (or a group of people) against another.

Bullying can happen to anyone and can take many different forms including:physical, verbal, exclusion/rejection, financial, sexual or cyberbullying.
Bullying can involve pushing hitting, teasing, humiliating, name calling, spreading nasty rumours about someone.

 Which are the different types of bullying?

VERBAL:

  • Calling names

  • Shouting.

  • Making fun.

  • Threatening.

EXCLUSION/REJECTION:

  • Excluding others from group work and/or games

  • Making up lies.

  • Spreading rumours or stories.

PHYSICAL:

  • Pushing, hitting, spitting, biting.

  • Stealing money by threatening or hitting.

  • Ripping clothes off and/or destroying objects

SEXUAL:

  • Making offensive remarks or comments of a sexual nature.

  • Forcing the practice of sexual acts.

CYBERBULLYING:

  • Spreading false information, harassment/persecution, intimidating and/or insulting through text messages, images, audio or video messages,  e-mail, websites, chats, instant messaging, social networks.

Here we have presented the different types of bullying separately.
 However, it is important not to forget that, in most cases, these types of bullying happen at the same time and against the same victim.

For example: a group of students insults another classmate from the same class by passing on notes with negative comments in the class room; at break time that group pushes the classmate against a teacher to embarrass him and records the event to spread it to the rest of the school.

REMEMBER...

Each of these types of bullying is a form of violence and in all of them there is another one present: PSYCHOLOGIAL VIOLENCE.

Whatever the type of bullying, the aim is to make the victim feel bad, uncomfortable, afraid, ashamed and insecure.

Experiencing bullying, particularly when we are alone, is complicated:

  • We feel no one is able to help us

  • We feel embarrassed to tell other people about what is happening.

  • We are afraid that if we tell, the classmates who have bullied us will find out and harass us even more.

  • We are afraid no one will believe us.

  • We are afraid that if we show ourselves to others as a victim, they will turn away from us and we will end up with no friends.

All these insecurities and fears are natural. Many victims feel the same way. Remember that if people really like you, or if your friends are really your friends, they will believe in everything you say. They will be the first ones willing to help and protect you. If they become distant in such a time of need then it is probably a sign that they were not truly your friends.

Victims may feel:

  • sad;

  • alone;

  • insecure;

  • anxious;

  • scared;

  • suspicious,

  • rejected and humiliated.

Some victims also:

 feel fear going to school and do everything to avoid going (such as pretending they are  unwell so that they do not have to go to classes);

 lower their grades;

 have difficulty sleeping at night or wake up scared from nightmares;

 lose their appetite;

 stop doing things they previously loved (such as meeting their riends on Saturday mornings for a bike ride).

These reactions and symptoms are a natural response to an experience that can threaten our well-being and personal safety.
However, it is always important to get some help.

The best way to overcome the situation is to face it! Don’t forget that all problems have a solution!
There are strategies you can use for protection. For more information see Strategies to protect yourself.

If you are being bullied:

  • Keep important contacts on your mobile, so you can easily ask for help if you need it.

  • When you go out, tell someone you trust (e.g. your parents) where you are going and what time you will return.

  • Vary your routes to the places you usually attend (e.g., from home to school) and try to do so in the company of others (for example, if you have classmates who live in the same area as you, arrange a time and a place where you can all meet to go together).

  • Tell someone you trust (e.g. a friend / classmate) what is happening, so that you have someone nearby you can go to, especially when you're alone. Talk to a trusted adult who works at the school about what is happening. You can also tell your parents. Adults can only help you if
    they know what you are going through.

  • There are organisations who can give you support and advice free of charge. You don’t need to make a report to the police. See How and where can I get support? for more information.   
  • If you encounter the bully, react calmly, safely, without violence. Not showing fear can sometimes be enough to discourage the bully.

  • If you feel that you are in danger go to a place where you feel safe or with more people around. You can also dial 999.

Victim Support Scotland

  • Victim Support Scotland can help you and your family. Victim Support Scotland offers information, support and advice to help you deal with  what has happened. They also offer support if you have to attend Court to give evidence.

  • You can contact Victim Support Scotland by looking in the phonebook or searching the website for your nearest office. Or you can phone their helpline.

  • Helpline: 0845 603 9213

  • Website: www.victimsupportsco.org.uk

Victims of Crime in Scotland

Childline

  • Childline is a free and confidential 24 hour helpline for young people. Childline’s trained counsellors provide help, support and advice on a wide range of issues, including bullying, sexual abuse and domestic violence.

  • There are a number of ways you can contact Childline: by phone, email, 1-2-1 chat online. You can also take part in online discussionboards and get support from others who have been through similar experiences.

  • Tel: 0800 11 11

  • Website: www.childline.org.uk

Kidscape

  • Kidscape provides information and advice for young people who are being bullied.

  • Website: www.kidscape.org.uk

Cybermentors

ANYONE WHO HAS BEEN A VICTIM OF CRIME OR WHO HAS WITNESSED A CRIME HAS THE RIGHT TO REPORT IT.

If you have been a victim of crime, it is strongly recommended that you report it to the police. 

Once reported, the likelihood of catching the person who committed the crime against you and stopping him/her from doing the same to others is much higher.

If you want to report a crime in confidence, without identifying yourself, it is possible to report crime anonymously. See WHERE CAN I REPORT? (below) for more information on how you can report crime. You can also get support and advice on reporting crime from organisations such as Victim Support Scotland.

 WHERE CAN I REPORT?

  • A crime can be reported by contacting the local police station and giving them information about what happened.

  • If you want to report a crime anonymously (without being identified) or give information about a crime, you can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. The call will never be traced and the person will not be required to give information in Court or give a full statement.

  • In some areas, if a racial or homophobic crime has taken place, it is possible to report the crime without going to a police station. This is called “Remote Reporting” or “Third Party Reporting”. This type of reporting allows you to report the crime to an organisation, who in turn will report it to the police. To find out which organisations in an area offers remote reporting facilities, you can contact local police force anonymously or have a look on the police force’s website.

    WHAT IS INVOLVED IN REPORTING A CRIME?

    Reporting a crime is free of charge.
    In any of the places where you can report a crime you will have to provide some information about what happened, what you have seen or heard:

    • the time and date of the crime;

    • the location of the event;

    • the description of what happened;

    • the description of the people involved (offender, if possible; victims; witnesses).

    The police will use this information to help them solve the crime and bring the perpetrator to justice.

    The person identified as the perpetrator of the crime may be notified and informed about the report made against them.

     WHAT HAPPENS AFTER A CRIME IS REPORTED?

    After the crime is reported an INVESTIGATION stage starts, during which the police will seek to gather all available evidence. This might require gathering more information from any victims and witnesses.

    • Victims and witnesses of crime will normally be asked to give the police a STATEMENT. This involves telling the police officer everything that happened or everything that was seen. This is important as it forms part of the  evidence the police are collecting and helps them to decide whether a crime has been committed. The statement is a legal document, and may also be used during later stages of the investigation and prosecution (put an accused on trial) of the crime. For example, it may be used by the Crown Office and Procurators Fiscal Service (COPFS), (see information about this figures on About going to court who can use it to decide whether it is likely the accused will be found guilty (convicted) of the crime. The statement can also be used as evidence in Court. For these reasons, it is important to make a statement only when you are ready and clear about what you want to say. After giving the statement, the police usually read it back to make sure it matches what the victim has said. If the victim agrees with the statement, they then have to sign it. Once this is done, the victim is given a crime reference number, which they can use later to get information from the police about the same case.

    • If the crime is of a sensitive nature, such as a sexual crime, the victim can ask to be interviewed by an officer of the same sex. For example, if a female victim can ask to speak to a female police officer.

      After a victim or witness has been interviewed (that is, the police have taken the statement) they may not to hear from the police again for some time. If the victim or witness wants to know how their case is progressing, they can do so by contacting the police, quoting the crime reference number the police gave, which helps the police find the information more easily.

      If the police identify a person or people they think are responsible for the crime there are several things they can do. For example, they might decide to take no further action, give the offender a warning, order the offender to pay a fine, etc.


      In Scotland there are different ways of dealing with an accused person, depending on their age:

      If the accused person is a young person (under 16), and if there is enough evidence, they will usually be referred to the CHILDREN’S REPORTER who considers what action to take.

      • The Children’s Reporter investigates the case to decide whether or not compulsory measures of intervention are needed to deal with the accused person. If compulsory intervention is required a Children’s Hearing will be held. A Children’s Hearing makes decisions on the issues and needs of the accused young person and how these issues can be addressed to
        prevent them offending again.

      • Some cases may need to be considered by both the Children’s Reporter and the Procurator Fiscal together, to decide whether the case should be dealt with by a CHILDREN’S HEARING or by the formal criminal justice system. Usually, it is only the most serious crimes committed by young people that are dealt with by the formal criminal justice system and
        taken to Court.

      • In many cases the accused young person will be referred to the Children’s Reporter, who decides whether or not a Children’s Hearing is needed. A Children’s Hearing makes decisions on the issues and needs of the accused young person and how the issues can be addressed to prevent them offending again.

      • Victims do not attend Children’s Hearings.

      PLEASE NOTE:
      The Children’s Hearings System deals with children and young people in Scotland under the age of eighteen who are in need of help. There are two main reasons why the Children’s Hearings System will help a child or young person:

      • Because they are in need of care and protection.

      • Because they have got into trouble with the police (e.g. they committed a crime).

      You can learn more about this here.
      For more information you can also search on: Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration

      • Provides information about the Children’s Hearing.

      • Website: www.scra.gov.uk

      If the accused person is an adult (over 16) and there is enough evidence, the police will report the crime to the Procurator Fiscal, who is responsible for the prosecution of crime in Scotland.

      • They decide what should happen with each report received from the police.

      • The Procurator Fiscal will review the case and, if there is enough evidence, they will put the accused on trial in Court.

      • The Procurator Fiscal may, however, decide there is not enough evidence, and take no further action (drop the case).

      • In certain cases, the Procurator Fiscal may decide action is required, but that a trial is not appropriate. In these cases alternative actions can be taken: the offender may be given a warning, ordered to pay a fine, ordered to do unpaid work.

      • If the Procurator Fiscal does decide put the accused on trial in Court, the victim may be interviewed by the Procurator Fiscal or the DEFENCE TEAM (the defence team is the team of people who represent and defend the accused person).

      • Following this a date will be set for a TRIAL to take place. The trial takes place in a COURT. During the trial, the people present include: the accused, the Judge (known as a Sheriff in Scotland), the Procurator Fiscal (who presents the evidence against the accused and tries to prove that the accused is guilty of committing the crime), the Defence Lawyer (a lawyer who represents the accused and defends the accused in Court), as well as witnesses, which can include the victim.

      • In the most serious cases, there will also be a JURY in the Court. The jury is a group of 15 men and women (jurors) who listen to the evidence and decide if the accused is guilty or not.

      PLEASE NOTE:

      The Criminal Justice System takes legal action on matters involving crimes committed by someone over 16. However if a person under 16 is suspected of committing a very serious crime (such as murder or serious assault) they may be dealt with by the criminal justice system. The age of criminal responsibility in Scotland is eight years old. Children under eight cannot be referred to the Reporter or the Procurator Fiscal for offending.
      You can read more about here.

        There are SPECIAL MEASURES available for young people who have to give evidence in Court. Special measures are different ways to help you give your evidence. These can include: giving evidence from another room through a television link; giving evidence from behind a screen in the Courtroom; having a support person with you when you; etc. Take a look here What support can I get? for more details.

        After the trial the Judge or the Jury (depending on the case), takes a decision: either the person is convicted (found guilty) or acquitted (found not guilty, or not proven) of the crimes.
        If the accused person is found guilty, the Judge will then decide on a suitable punishment for the offender. This might be a prison sentence (the Judge will decide on the length the offender must serve in prison). In other cases the offender may be given a community sentence (made to do unpaid work in the community) or they may be made to pay a fine or pay compensation (money) to the victim.

        • If the criminal case is taken to a Court with a Judge, you may be asked to attend and tell them everything you know. This is called giving your evidence.

        • Victims and witnesses do not attend Children’s Hearings. Sometimes the people making decisions at Children’s Hearings do not agree, or it might not be clear what happened. In these cases the case may need to go to a Court for another Hearing. If this happens, you might be asked to go to Court to tell them everything you know. This is called giving your evidence.

        • If you are to give evidence in Court, you will receive a letter (known as a citation). The letter will tell you the date, time and location you need to attend Court.

        • It is natural to feel very worried or afraid about going to Court. But there is lots of support available to help you through it. Victim Support Scotland have a Witness Service dedicated to giving help and support to people going to Court. They are part of Victim Support Scotland and are based in every Sheriff and High Court in Scotland. The Witness Service can answer general questions about what happens at Court and can also arrange a visit to the Court before the day of the trial, to get you familiar with the Courtroom setting so that you will know what to expect (See What support can I get? for more information).

        Regardless of what you decided to do, you always have the right to be supported. Even if you decide to not report the crime, it is very important to talk to someone about what happened, how you are feeling and the help and support available. If you want to talk to someone before you make a decision to report, there are professionals and organisations who can inform, advise and support you. Search on How and where can I get support? for more information.

        There are probably many reasons why someone is capable of bullying another person. One possible explanation is the bully’s desire bully’s desire for power, that is, people bully to have power over another person and to make them feel tough. Often they pick on people who they consider to be weaker or different in some way, for example:

        • due to a physical characteristic or appearance (e.g.: because they are shorter/taller than classmates; wear glasses or braces; have freckles; have a different way of dressing; belong to an ethnic minority or to a different nationality);

        • due to a non-physical characteristic (e.g.: people who seem insecure, shy, quiet and isolated).

        That is why bullying is an intentional behaviour: its purpose is to scare, humiliate or intimidate the victim and, at the same time, to make the bully feel tough, powerful and/or more popular. It is also common for bullies to repeat their bullying behaviours over time, with the same victim or with others.

        No. Violence is not a normal or acceptable behaviour. The norm is that classmates behave in a non-violent way. Violence is not play. Often classmates play jokes on each other but when these have the purpose of embarrassing, hurting or harming someone they are no longer simply playing or fooling around. Ask yourself: “How would I feel if I was that boy or girl being mocked?” and you will quickly understand that the joke is only funny for some (it is not funny at all for the person being mocked; it may cause them shame, fear and a great deal of discomfort).

        Boys and girls are equally likely to be bullies. But boys and girls tend to use different types of bullying:

        • girls are more often involved in psychological forms of bullying, rejection or exclusion behaviours, like spreading rumours, excluding people from their peer group or other types of abuse aimed at humiliating, isolating or upsetting someone;

        • boys are more likely to use more direct forms of bullying, such as pushing, physical aggression and insults.

        Bullying can start at any age. In some cases it starts in primary school and continues into high school and adult life. Often, if bullies are not confronted with their bullying behaviours they will maintain the violent or aggressive pattern in other relationships (with friends, classmates, work colleagues, future partners).

        The impact of physical violence and abuse depend on many different things:

        • the type of abuse suffered (in general the impact is greater if abuse is endured over longer periods of time and involves more serious forms, such as physical or sexual violence);

        • the individual characteristics of the victim (for example, people who are more fragile and insecure may suffer a deeper negative impact);

        • the support offered by parents, teachers and friends (if the victim decides not to tell anyone about what is happening there is a greater risk of a more negative impact; additionally, by not telling anyone what is happening, it’s more likely that the bullying will continue).

        You can and should help:

        • you can support your friend by giving him/her attention and encouragement and spending more time with him/her;

        • you should demonstrate that you understand what he/she is going through and why he/she does not want to share it with anyone;

        • at the same time, encourage your friend to tell someone: suggest him/her to seek help from parents, teachers or other professionals. But do not be forceful or put pressure on your friend: let him/her decides freely. 

        For more information see WHAT SHOULD I DO?.

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