Bullying suicides vow to log victims of online ‘wild west’

THE Children’s Commissioner for England has vowed to compile figures of the number of child suicides caused by bullying after revealing no data exists.

Anne Longfield also called for an internet ombudsman, saying the online world was a “wild west” for children.

She makes the comments in an interview with Dame Esther Rantzen to be aired on Channel 5’s Do The Right Thing with Eamonn and Ruth tonight.

The That’s Life! presenter asked Mrs Longfield if anyone was collecting data on the number of children who take their lives because they cannot stand being bullied any more.

Anne, who has been appointed OBE for her work, replied: “I don’t think there are those statistics easily available.

“It’s something I can do as Children’s Commissioner and I’ll do that.”

She goes on to say the internet is not being designed with young users in mind.

Calling for an internet ombudsman she said: “It’s kind of like a wild west and in some ways we are leaving children to fend for themselves on the internet, so I do think there needs to be better regulation.

“I’ve been pressing the tech companies to take more responsibility for what goes on and

CONCERN: That’s Life presenter Dame Esther

I’d like there to be a duty of care for the tech companies. That’s one of the things that I’ve been recommending for the last couple of years. So my role, clearly, is about standing up for kids, but I think we need someone who can actually specialise in the digital world.

“And children have very little faith, they tell me, in tech companies taking down posts or providing that kind of level of protection. They just say ‘Look, we did that and nothing happened’. So I’d like to see a kind of digital ombudsmen.

“It would be their job to really keep check on what is going on and ensure that consumers and indeed children weren’t coming to harm.”

Dame Esther, who founded Childline, said: “Now cyber bullying means that it no longer stops at the school gates but follows children everywhere, even into their bedrooms.

“I want schools to take greater responsibility. The Government should urgently collect the statistics so they can assess how serious this problem is, so I greatly welcome the Children’s Commissioner who is determined to uncover the truth.” The show airs a harrowing interview with student Hannah, 18, who tried to take her life aged 15, after years of bullying. Do The Right Thing, Channel 5 9pm tonight.