20% of children in Suffolk admit to having been cyberbullied – and 74% say they know someone it has happened to
On this page we cover:
- What is bullying?
- What is cyberbullying?
- What is hate crime and how to report it
11th-15th November is Anti-bullying Week – choose ‘Respect’
What is bullying?
Bullying can happen anywhere and the aim is to hurt you. It can include:
- name calling including racist and homophobic bullying
- kicking or hitting
- taking your things
- spreading rumours
- excluding you from things
- cyberbullying – report online abuse
What can I do if I am being bullied?
The below videos give advice for things you can do to try and resolve the situation from anti-bullying alliance.
What is cyberbullying?
Note: The word cyberbullying is used to describe bullying that happens online, and it can include anything from aggressive messages to trolling, to posting altered and offensive pictures. Often done anonymously and at anyone time unlike being bullied at school, cyberbully is harder to get away from.
Local research in Suffolk showed that if you have a disability, your risk of being cyberbullied is more than double that of your non-disabled peers.
If someone in your school is bullying you online, posting content of you without your permission and using it in a harmful way, you can get your parents/carers to contact your school to address the bullying. Your school can contact the UK Safer Internet Centre helpline for advice.
What is hate crime?
A hate crime is any crime which is motivated because of any of the following:
- Race
- Religion
- Disability
- Sexual orientation
- Transgender identity
A hate incident is defined as – any incident which may or may not constitute a criminal offence but which is perceived by the victim or anyone else as being motivated by prejudice or hate. Watch the video below which explains about hate crime.
How do I report a hate crime incident?
If you have experienced or witnessed a hate crime you can report it by:
- Using the Suffolk Police online reporting form
- Calling 101 but if it is an emergency call 999
- Report it anonymously online via the True Vision website
- Visit the Norfolk Suffolk Victim Care website
You may also like to visit Home – Stop Hate UK
If you’ve been affected by hate crime and would like support, contact Norfolk and Suffolk Victim Care on 0300 303 3706. Crimes do not have to be reported to the police to access this free and confidential service.
The #StoptheHate video below was created with young people from West Suffolk College to raise awareness of the impact being unkind can have and reminds everyone to ‘be nice’.
Young people with additional needs can experience bullying and hate crime more than young people without disabilities. Bullying and hate crime is best not dealt with on your own, if you can, find someone to speak to. Remember, it is not your fault! Find out more: Bullying information – Easy read
If you’re the victim, don’t suffer in silence – tell someone even if you feel scared to.
More young people then ever are reporting bullying so they should take your problems seriously and support you. Bullying and Cyberbullying is not something that we should have to tackle on our own.
Useful Resources
For connecting with people safely online:
1) Think about who you are making friends with online – who are they?
2) Set up privacy settings on your accounts
3) Don’t give out your personal information
4) Tell someone if you are being cyber-bullied
5) Make sure the information you like and share online is always positive
Read more about it in our ‘Life Online FAQs’.
Visit the CEOP 11-18 page for advice on safety and relationships for young people.
Where can I get support for how I’m feeling?
If talking about it face to face with someone you know is too difficult, try one of these:
- Kooth – A free confidential online service for young people in Suffolk.
- ChildLine – Provide a helpline and community message boards to support young people.
- Books on Tackling Bullying from Suffolk Community Libraries
Remember it’s not your fault and it is important to get support for your emotional wellbeing if you need it – speak to someone.
Keep connecting with people – even if you feel afraid to!
When we are being bullied we tend to deal with it by being alone. We lose confidence to connect with others through fear of rejection – but don’t be alone. Find support – Emotional wellbeing support helplines
This last video below we hope will leave you with the courage to keep connecting with others and keep looking for friends who will accept you for who you are – wherever you find them – in school, outside school, a club or hobby, neighbourhood, through gaming. etc.
Page updated on March 26th, 2026 at 02:26pm