The thought of contacting the
police can be quite a challenge for a lot of children,
especially if your only contact is through watching 'the
bill'!
Officers are trained to help and
advise you. You can speak to the police for advice only.
Having an officer call to your house doesn't mean you
have to record details etc.
If anyone hits you then you are
quite within your rights to inform the police and make a
complaint against the person who is responsible. You
won't be wasting police time!
The police are there to stop
violence and the sooner they are told the sooner the
matter can hopefully be stopped.
The police will act accordingly
depending on the level of assault
The police will (or should)
explain the procedure if you want to make a complaint.
If the assault is common assault a
common practice is for police to record the incident and
visit the offender to speak about their behaviour (only
if you are happy for this course of action) obviously if
it isn't the first occassion another approach may be
needed but all approaches are discussed with yourself
first so make sure you understand the action you are
asking the police to take.
All too often though the incidents
are ongoing, being commonly assaulted or verbally abused
day after day can wear even the strongest willed children
down so having an officer talk to the offender about
common assault may not be the answer. Talking about
HARASSMENT(see below) though puts the ongoing problem in
a different light.
If you make an official complaint
then a written account of the incident would be taken by
the police and you will be issued a Crime Number. This
refers to your case alone.If your injury is visible then
a photo might be taken and this can be used as evidence
of the assault.
Even assaults that occur in the school can be reported to
the police.
In 1997 a law was introduced
to help females who were the victim of 'stalkers'. A
stalker being a person who follows someone around, sends
unwanted gifts or letters, constantly telephones them
etc.
This law also helps people in everyday
situations including you being constantly bullied.
Bullying is a form of 'HARASSMENT', The
word simply means 'harassing another person'
and 'causing them distress'. You being bullied quite
simply fits into this act.
The exact wording in law for the
HARASSMENT ACT 1997:
(1) a person must not pursue a course
of conduct
(a) which amounts to harassment of another
(b) which he/she knows or ought to know amounts to
harassment of another
(2) a person who pursues a course of
conduct in breach of section 1 is guilty of an offence.
'Course of conduct'
must involve conduct on at least 2 occasions not more
than a year apart and it need not be the same conduct eg;
threats made, property damaged.
You being being bullied is a form of harassment.
Tell someone! get it
STOPPED!
You are the one who must
make the first move in getting it stopped. Once you speak
out you should not be alone. You are alone when the
bullying happens so speak out!
Just think! If you speak out you could stop many children
going through what you have. GOOD LUCK in whatever you decide to do.
the next page (Is your child bullied?)