Happy slapping

Happy slapping is the wrong description for an assault in which the attack is filmed. There's nothing happy about it, it's a bit like calling someone who steals a car and kills someone a 'joyrider'.

Bullying UK started to get complaints about happy slapping in November 2004. The first incidents took place in the London area, often on buses and trains, and quickly spread to the school playground and street.

The assault usually involves a stranger being hit over the head while other members of the gang take photographs/video on their camera phones.

Happy slapping is a crimeThe pictures are then circulated by mobile phone or put on the internet. In recent years happy slapping has become an unpleasant and dangerous craze.

 There have been a number of high profile cases in which attackers have been jailed for killing people in this way.

Where happy slapping attacks have happened in school playgrounds pupils have been afraid to return to school. Anyone who thinks this is just a bit of harmless fun should think about the consequences.

Schools which are told there has been a happy slapping attack should support parents in a complaint to the police because there are a number of offences involved.

The first is assault, the second is harassment if the pictures are shown around and uploaded to the internet and it's also against telecommunications law to use a phone to cause alarm or distress.

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

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