Internet abuse

Bullying UK has seen an explosion in abusive emails, instant messages and unpleasant websites containing offensive and often obscene or threatening remarks about other pupils.

There are ways that people who send emails can be tracked by internet service providers and the police. All emails carry information which shows the path the email has taken to get to your computer.

Internet service providers have contact email addresses for complaints about email and this will normally be abuse@hotmail.com , abuse@btinternet.com or whichever system the sender is using. Don't reply to the email or delete it, forward the whole thing to the sender's ISP.

If your son or daughter is named on an abusive message board or website then let us know and we will contact the website host to try to get it closed down. We have had success doing this in the past.

In 2005 we closed down a series of message boards in the Hertfordshire/north London area where pupils were being identified by name, school and year and others were invited to post abuse about them. These boards have been reported to Hertfordshire Police following complaints to us by parents and pupils.

Among problems we identified were:

A death threat Serious racist abuse A girl who tried to kill herself due to abuse A teenager on anti-depressants who was afraid to go out due to threats	Numerous threats of violence Numerous bogus messages posted in the names of people being targeted A boy who lost all his friends as a result of postings made in his name

Sending abuse by email or posting it into a web board can be harassment and if this has happened to your child you need to make a complaint to the police.

All message boards run by private individuals are hosted by firms and you can often find an address to complain to in the 'help' section of the board. In our experience firms usually act swiftly to shut down the board because allowing abuse to be posted is against their terms and conditions.

Even if the people posting this abuse do so using a false name, they can still be traced because the firm which hosts the website will keep logs which detail where uploads have been made from. You can't access this information but the police can.

If offensive comments are being made by instant messenger print them out and make a complaint to the police if the messages are threatening or if there are so many of them that they could be considered to be harassment.

Suggest your child changes their IM details and only gives them to genuine friends.

Contact us on help@bullying.co.uk if you need more help.

Other pages in this sectionBullying policies / Role of the DCSF / Is my child being bullied? / School bus bullies
Contacting the Governors and LEAa / Happy slapping / Internet safety advice for parents / Internet abuse
Is my child a bully? / If your child is bullying others / Do you share blame? / Dealing with an older bully
Teacher bullying / Home schooling / Bullying in sport / Parents' panel - Have your say
Who can help on racism / Parents' survey results / Moving your child to a new school / Pupils' survey results
Taking legal action / Bullying outside school / Independent and private schools / Parents' problem page
Model letters to help your complaint / National Bullying Survey 2006 / Cyber bullying introduction / Dangerous websites
Mobile phone problems / Practical help with racism / Dealing with racism / Internet scams
How does bullying make a child feel? / Dealing with a younger bully / Teachers' survey results / Adults' survey results
Contacting the school / Access to pupil records