Flintshire politicians told to set better example to youngsters after pledging to tackle cyberbullying

Politicians in Flintshire have been told they should set a better example to young people after vowing to take a stand against cyberbullying. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

A motion was brought forward calling on Flintshire Council to tackle the issue after a survey of 6,585 secondary school children in the county showed almost a quarter have been subjected to bullying online. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

It was suggested after former teacher David Healey, who represents Caergwrle, said he believed cyberbullying had contributed to the increase in mental health issues among pupils. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

His proposal was debated at a full council meeting which was held yesterday, during which a number of councillors said they should also reflect on their own behaviour.
It followed several fiery exchanges during an earlier debate on council tax. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Introducing his motion, Cllr Healey (Lab) said he was concerned about the damaging impact cyberbullying was having. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

He said: “We know there is an increase in mental health problems amongst our children in schools. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Very sadly, there’s quite a bit of anecdotal evidence to show that one of the contributing factors is bullying online. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“I’ve had children at school, and I know what bullying can do and how damaging it is, but I’m grateful my own children weren’t around when social media was. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“However, my grandchildren are and our current children in schools are and this gives a whole added dimension to the damage that is being done.
“I think we do have to make a stand.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Cllr Healey also criticised the way social media is used by some politicians, including US president Donald Trump. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Members of a backbench group of councillors in Flintshire previously pledged to take a stand against the issue. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

However, at the full council meeting, some said they wanted to take it further by asking for a report from officers on what the authority can do to stop cyberbullying. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Cllr Paul Cunningham (Lab) was among those who said he felt they should also consider their own behaviour. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Addressing the chair of the meeting, he said: “I think we ought to look at ourselves first and the behaviour in this council chamber. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“How many times today have you asked people across the floor to show a bit of respect? ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“We should deplore cyberbullying and we should deplore any kind of bullying.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Meanwhile, an independent councillor voiced concerns about the 24-hour nature of online bullying, which he said could affect children even when they are at home. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Cllr Richard Jones said: “A friend of mine I work with has got two children and he says the big difference nowadays is when someone is bullied online it’s 24 hours a day. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“There’s kids sat there on their phones being bullied while they’re in their bedrooms.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

At the end of the meeting, all councillors rose to their feet to support Cllr Healey’s motion. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

They will receive a report back on the action to be taken by the council against cyberbullying at a later date. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

By Liam Randall – Local Democracy Reporter (more here). ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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