Bullying of children surged during lockdown, poll finds

A RISE i n cyber bullying during lockdown has led to almost 40 per cent of bullying now taking place online, a survey has found.

One in three children say they have been bullied during the pandemic and a growing number have reported cyber bullying, according to a poll commissioned by the Anti-bullying Alliance.

It suggests nearly two in five children were worried about bullying when they returned to class at the start of term after months of school closures.

The alliance said Covid may have changed the way bullying is happening, with rising numbers reporting incidents online and in the community.

The poll of more than 2,000 secondary school pupils in England in October found 33 per cent were bullied in the last six months. Of those who have been victims of bullying, 19 per cent said it happened once a week, while 7 per cent said it was every day.

Overall, 38 per cent said the bullying had taken place online, a rise from 29 per cent in a pre-covid survey last year.

One young person who took part in the survey said his Chinese friend had been bullied because of coronavirus, while another reported people coughed at each other and said they had Covid.

The poll found that 38 per cent of children were anxious about bullying when returning to school in September.

Of those who had been bullied, 74 per cent said it took place in school and 26 per cent said it occurred on the journey to and from school.

Martha Evans, director of the AntiBullying Alliance, said: “It’s clear that bullying remains a significant problem for many children across the country, and we know that these experiences can have a lasting impact well into adulthood. Be it online, in the community or in school, we all have a part to play and it’s time we came together, friends and family, classmates and colleagues, and united against bullying.”

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the National Association of Headteachers, said: “Schools have a role in educating children and young people about the risks and consequences of their online behaviour, including on social media channels. PSHE education and the new relationships and health education provide vital opportunities to support this learning.”