Child punched at school..is it a matter for the police?
Discussion
A friend of mine had to go and pick his son up from school yesterday because he'd been punched in the face, and needed hospital treatment (a couple of stitches). His eye is also swollen to the point where he can hardly see out of it.
It seems that that the kid has been bullied for a few months, and then yesterday the bully decided to take it up a notch and decked my friends son. There are plently of witnesses that say there was no provocation. The bully is a year older and 6 inches taller than my mates son.
The headmaster seem to think its something that should be dealt with by the school, but my mate thinks it should be reported to the police as an assault. When the headmaster said it was a school matter, my mate asked if they would consider him punching a member of staff as an assault
Personally I think that the rules of society exist regardless of it being a school.
Whats do the masses think?
Edited to add.....the kids are around the 13-14 age.
It seems that that the kid has been bullied for a few months, and then yesterday the bully decided to take it up a notch and decked my friends son. There are plently of witnesses that say there was no provocation. The bully is a year older and 6 inches taller than my mates son.
The headmaster seem to think its something that should be dealt with by the school, but my mate thinks it should be reported to the police as an assault. When the headmaster said it was a school matter, my mate asked if they would consider him punching a member of staff as an assault
Personally I think that the rules of society exist regardless of it being a school.
Whats do the masses think?
Edited to add.....the kids are around the 13-14 age.
98elise said:
...
The headmaster seem to think its something that should be dealt with by the school ...
He would think that, yes... The headmaster seem to think its something that should be dealt with by the school ...
Were the staff aware of this bullying beforehand, or not?
What sanctions are the school going to place against the bully?
These (and more) are basic questions to be asked of the Head before ringing 101, I'd say. After all, the incident happened in said Head's care, he is ultimately responsible for sorting this out - but then calling 101 might be a reasonable answer if the Head isn't a strong leader with the courage of his convictions (ref. answers to the questions asked of him)
.Report it!
Headmaster wants to deal with it in house - police intervention doesn't look good on the school.
The school have an acting parental responsibility to your child whilst he is in their care.
You state he is a bully, have there been any other incidents involving other kids?
Did the Head deal with those incidents?
Does detention/suspension really have any effect?
A short sharp shock down at the local nick might well do the trick
Your friend should consider the following.
A - How are the School intending on dealing with it? Exclusion, or something less severe?
B - If the aggressor is arrested by Police, one of the possible outcomes might involve dragging a CHILD through the courts system. Does your friend really want to put their kid through that? The child will have to be interviewed on video, and made to give a full account of what happened, prior to any further action being taken.
How does the child feel about all this?
/mumsnet.
The more likely outcome of police involvement is the kid being put in touch with the youth offending team, following arrest, and if he complies with the meetings etc... not a lot will happen to him. If he fails to comply with YOTS, then he would get charged, and sent to court...
A - How are the School intending on dealing with it? Exclusion, or something less severe?
B - If the aggressor is arrested by Police, one of the possible outcomes might involve dragging a CHILD through the courts system. Does your friend really want to put their kid through that? The child will have to be interviewed on video, and made to give a full account of what happened, prior to any further action being taken.
How does the child feel about all this?
/mumsnet.
The more likely outcome of police involvement is the kid being put in touch with the youth offending team, following arrest, and if he complies with the meetings etc... not a lot will happen to him. If he fails to comply with YOTS, then he would get charged, and sent to court...
Edited by Adam675 on Tuesday 13th May 20:01
Take photos of the injury now whilst visible. My boy is much younger but at that age and with those injuries I think I would be inclined to want to involve the police. Not sure what can be done but I would also be making sure the head was under no illusions that a zero tolerance had better be demonstrated, with frequent follow up calls.
I would say involve the cops, but dont expect too much.
My daughter was pushed to the ground by a bully,broke both her thighs,3 days in ICU,3 weeks in hospital,in a wheelchair for another month & only just walking unaided now. Cops investigated & the bully got........ a telling off!!! There may even have been a wagging finger, but THAT was it!
Apparently it is to encourage the little scumbag to behave,not to punish him
Justice,what f
king justice!
My daughter was pushed to the ground by a bully,broke both her thighs,3 days in ICU,3 weeks in hospital,in a wheelchair for another month & only just walking unaided now. Cops investigated & the bully got........ a telling off!!! There may even have been a wagging finger, but THAT was it!
Apparently it is to encourage the little scumbag to behave,not to punish him
Justice,what f
king justice!kowalski655 said:
I would say involve the cops, but dont expect too much.
My daughter was pushed to the ground by a bully,broke both her thighs,3 days in ICU,3 weeks in hospital,in a wheelchair for another month & only just walking unaided now. Cops investigated & the bully got........ a telling off!!! There may even have been a wagging finger, but THAT was it!
Apparently it is to encourage the little scumbag to behave,not to punish him
Justice,what fking justice!
I have no doubt you are aware, but remember, what happens post arrest in something as serious as that, will be down to the CPS, not* the Police... Just sayin'. Not saying I agree with the current system either.My daughter was pushed to the ground by a bully,broke both her thighs,3 days in ICU,3 weeks in hospital,in a wheelchair for another month & only just walking unaided now. Cops investigated & the bully got........ a telling off!!! There may even have been a wagging finger, but THAT was it!
Apparently it is to encourage the little scumbag to behave,not to punish him
Justice,what f
king justice!- Wrong word edit. derp.
Edited by Adam675 on Tuesday 13th May 20:16
How old is the bully?
If over 10 I'd get the police involved. That is too much of an injury to let it slide.
I'd also record every single penny spent on this and sue the little sh*t's parents for it. Include in that your time in dealing with the matter. And I'd tell his parents right now that is what you are doing.
If over 10 I'd get the police involved. That is too much of an injury to let it slide.
I'd also record every single penny spent on this and sue the little sh*t's parents for it. Include in that your time in dealing with the matter. And I'd tell his parents right now that is what you are doing.
Firstly how old are the children involved will influence what the police can do, and chances are they won't want to lumber a kid with a criminal record for stupidity.
Secondly if the police are involved is there a chance either the bully or their parents will take it badly and take it out on the kid or the person who reported it.
In my opinion as a victim of bullying at school the best option is to let the head handle it but warn them if it continues you will involve the police.
Secondly if the police are involved is there a chance either the bully or their parents will take it badly and take it out on the kid or the person who reported it.
In my opinion as a victim of bullying at school the best option is to let the head handle it but warn them if it continues you will involve the police.
A bit of an update (via my wife)....
My mate has contacted the police but has been told it has to go through some sort of schools liason (no idea what this is). It appears the bully "is known to the police", however he's still in school so there have been no sanctions against him as yet. My mates son is not going back until its resolved.
My mate has contacted the police but has been told it has to go through some sort of schools liason (no idea what this is). It appears the bully "is known to the police", however he's still in school so there have been no sanctions against him as yet. My mates son is not going back until its resolved.
Known to the police = Nothing will be done.
If it was a good kid with no previous history who got it a fight, they'd be all over him like a rash and quick to make him accept a caution that would ruin his life.
But as it is a known troublemaker who will no doubt know the drill and whose parents also know the drill, the police will tell you there is no evidence of any wrongdoing as they cant be bothered with "criminals" who know the law.
If it was a good kid with no previous history who got it a fight, they'd be all over him like a rash and quick to make him accept a caution that would ruin his life.
But as it is a known troublemaker who will no doubt know the drill and whose parents also know the drill, the police will tell you there is no evidence of any wrongdoing as they cant be bothered with "criminals" who know the law.
98elise said:
A bit of an update (via my wife)....
My mate has contacted the police but has been told it has to go through some sort of schools liason (no idea what this is). It appears the bully "is known to the police", however he's still in school so there have been no sanctions against him as yet. My mates son is not going back until its resolved.
Schools Liason = SLO. Schools liason officer.My mate has contacted the police but has been told it has to go through some sort of schools liason (no idea what this is). It appears the bully "is known to the police", however he's still in school so there have been no sanctions against him as yet. My mates son is not going back until its resolved.
As soon as they get in touch, make it clear that you won't let the matter drop.
Annoyingly the SLO might well contact the school prior to contacting you. I had a similar situation with my nephew being bullied and assaulted
The SLO spoke to the headmaster prior to speaking to either myself (I have parental responsibility), my sister (nephews mum) or my nephew, and took the heads word that the matter was in hand.
It took a lot of calls from me, and a little word from the in house solicitor from the company where I was working to Duty Inspectors to get the SLO to actually 'have a little word' with the kids.
I took the school on - head on! Followed the complaints procedure to the letter, and ended up in an official complaints meeting with the board of governors. It was an uphill battle, but I eventually got some satisfaction and forced the school into re-thinking the disciplinary procedures and actually forced the Headmaster into growing a pair and actually doing something rather than hiding away and trying to brush things under the carpet.
EDIT: swot up on the schools complaints procedure, have step one and step 2 ready and waiting (written complaint) that can be fired off by email the second you get told the decision to your verbal complaint.
An additional thought: formally ask the Headmaster to provide you with the full names of the closest teachers that were on duty (as they at the time had acting parental responsibility) when the boy was assaulted.
If the Head has an ounce of common sense, he will know where that comment could be leading
Edited by Pagey on Tuesday 13th May 21:08
hunton69 said:
The bully is not the issue
The parents of the bully ARE
The parents of the bully ARE
Nailed it!
Eclassy said:
Known to the police = Nothing will be done.
If it was a good kid with no previous history who got it a fight, they'd be all over him like a rash and quick to make him accept a caution that would ruin his life.
But as it is a known troublemaker who will no doubt know the drill and whose parents also know the drill, the police will tell you there is no evidence of any wrongdoing as they cant be bothered with "criminals" who know the law.
o rly?If it was a good kid with no previous history who got it a fight, they'd be all over him like a rash and quick to make him accept a caution that would ruin his life.
But as it is a known troublemaker who will no doubt know the drill and whose parents also know the drill, the police will tell you there is no evidence of any wrongdoing as they cant be bothered with "criminals" who know the law.
98elise said:
I should also add that the school is an excellent school, well over subscribed and very hard to get a place at!
It was the first choice for our daughter but she couldn't get in.
Because they hush things up and sweep their failures under the carpet.It was the first choice for our daughter but she couldn't get in.
Infuriates me. I console myself by clinging to the belief that when I'm head of somewhere and something like that happened, I'll march the offending so-and-so down the station myself.
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