Market Drayton parents warned over dangers of cyber bullying
Parents are to be warned about the dangers of cyber bullying after police in Market Drayton received complaints about it happening on social media at a school in the town.
Constable Mick Sturland, of Market Drayton's safer neighbourhood team, said police have received a complaint from a couple of parents about an instance of cyber bullying on Instagram at the Grove School.
Constable Sturland has visited the school to speak to staff and they have agreed to send a letter out to parents to give them advice about school policy and cyber bullying.
He said: "I went to Grove School after we'd received a complaint from a couple of parents about an instance of cyber bullying on Instagram at the school. Among the topics we discussed were around a joint plea to parents to make sure they notify school in the first instance as not all reports necessarily need to be reported to the police.
"The school have a very clear policy around bullying and any reports that they feel warrant our involvement, would be reported to us in any case.
"We don't wish to dissuade parents from calling the police in serious genuine cases, but this particular report highlighted how the young people could be criminalised when a more appropriate course of action could have been taken through the school.
"Some parents call 101 straight away instead of perhaps considering speaking to the school first, which could alleviate, in some cases, the need to criminalise the young person. A joint letter from the head teacher and myself will be sent to all parents giving them advice about school policy and cyber bullying.
"There will also be some links to websites to give parents information and guidance to help them keep their children safe in the online world."
Constable Sturland added he and the school have also arranged some presentations to pupils in year seven and nine about cyber bullying.
No one from the school was available to comment.
New figures have revealed that 43 per cent of parents in the Midlands with a child aged between eight to 18 years old don't use parental controls on devices that their child uses.
However, the Midlands, including Shropshire is actually up on the national average of 41 per cent of parents who use controls to keep children safe online.
