InspireU peer-to-peer abuse policy

Introduction

Abusive behaviour can happen to learners within our college. It is necessary to consider:

  • what abuse is and looks like
  • how it can be managed
  • what appropriate support and intervention can be put in place to meet the needs of the individual
  • what preventative strategies may be put in place to reduce further risk of harm
  • the forms abuse may take and the subsequent actions required

Types of abuse

There are many forms of abuse that may occur between peers and this list is not exhaustive. Each form of abuse or prejudiced behaviour is described in detail followed by advice and support on actions to be taken.

Physical abuse

Physical abuse may include:

  • hitting
  • kicking
  • nipping
  • shaking
  • biting
  • hair pulling

There may be many reasons why a young person harms another. It is important to understand why a young person has engaged in such behaviour before considering the action or punishment to be undertaken. 

Sexually harmful behaviour or sexual abuse

Sexual abuse may include:

  • inappropriate sexual language
  • inappropriate role play
  • forcing someone to strip or touch themselves sexually
  • to engage in sexual activity with a third party without consent
  • sexually touching another person without consent 

Sexually harmful behaviour from young people is not always contrived or with the intent to harm others. There may be many reasons why a young person engages in sexually harmful behaviour. It may be just as distressing to the young person who instigates it as well as the young person it is intended towards.

Bullying

Bullying includes actions such as:

  • making threats
  • spreading rumours
  • excluding someone from a group on purpose
  • attacking someone physically or verbally or for a particular reason such as:
    • size
    • hair colour
    • gender
    • sexual orientation

Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behaviour among school-aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behaviour is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated over time. Both young people who are bullied and who bully others may have serious, lasting problems.

Cyber bullying

Cyberbullying is the use of digital platforms to harass, threaten, or intimidate someone. For example:

  • phones
  • instant messaging
  • email
  • chat rooms
  • social networking sites such as:
    • Facebook
    • Snapchat
    • X

If the behaviour involves the use of taking or distributing indecent images of young people under the age of 18 then this is also a criminal offence under the Sexual Offences Act 2003. Outside of the immediate support young people may require in these instances, the school will have no choice but to involve the police to investigate these situations.

Sharing of nude and semi-nude images (sexting)

Sharing of nude and semi-nude images or videos or sexting is when someone sends or receives a sexually explicit text, image or video. Pressuring someone into sending a nude picture can happen in any relationship and to anyone, whatever their age, gender or sexual preference. 

However, once the image is taken and sent, the sender has lost control of the image and these images could end up anywhere. By having in their possession, or distributing, indecent images of a person under 18 on to someone else, young people are not even aware that they could be breaking the law.

Initiation and hazing

Hazing is a form of initiation ceremony which is used to induct newcomers into an organisation such as a sports team. There are a number of different forms, from relatively mild rituals to severe and sometimes violent ceremonies. The idea behind this practice is that it welcomes newcomers by subjecting them to a series of trials which promote a bond between them. Many rituals involve humiliation, embarrassment, abuse, and harassment.

Prejudiced behaviour

The term prejudice-related bullying refers to a range of hurtful behaviour, physical or emotional, or both. It causes someone to feel:

  • powerless
  • worthless
  • excluded
  • marginalised

It is connected with prejudices around belonging, identity and equality in wider society.

Common causes of prejudiced behaviour:

  • disabilities and special educational needs
  • ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds
  • gender
  • sexual identity
  • home life

Upskirting

Upskirting typically involves taking a picture under a person’s clothing without their permission, with the intention of viewing their genitals or buttocks to:

  • obtain sexual gratification
  • cause the victim humiliation, distress, or alarm

Teenage relationship abuse

Abuse may include:

  • insults
  • coercion
  • social sabotage
  • sexual harassment
  • threats and acts of physical and sexual abuse

Teenage relationship abuse is defined as a pattern of actual or threatened acts of:

  • physical
  • sexual
  • emotional abuse

It is perpetrated by an adolescent (between the ages of 13 and 18) against a current or former partner. 

The abusive teen uses this pattern of violent and coercive behaviour in order to gain power and maintain control over the partner.