‘It will end in tragedy’: Experts issue warning over rise in disturbing trend of youngsters filming attacks on other children for ‘sport’ and uploading clips to social media
- The brother of one victim said: ‘A child is going to lose their life from this craze’
Experts are warning about a dangerous trend where footage of children being attacked is put on social media and ‘seen as sport’ – amid fears ‘there will be a tragedy if something is not done’.
Christine Pratt, founder of the National Bullying Helpline described the worrying incidents as an ‘escalating trend’ – but did not know the reason why it was happening.
‘It is seen as sport and amusement by the children involved,’ she said.
The brother of one victim claimed: ‘A child is going to lose their life from this craze. It’s happening all over the country.’
Disturbing footage of a 12-year-old girl being lured to a park in Merseyside and viciously attacked was shared in another incident.
She was allegedly dragged to the ground, punched in the face and kicked.
Footage of an attack on a 13-year-old girl in Old Rough Park, Kirkby
The incident was filmed and footage, seen by the Liverpool Echo, shows around a dozen other children gathered watching and cheering the attacker with one saying ‘smash her head in’ and ‘chat s*** get banged’.
The victim’s mother said older boys were kicking her daughter in the head during the sickening incident in Old Rough Park, Kirkby, on April 22.
She revealed they have since moved away from the area.
A week after the attack, Merseyside Police said a 12-year-old girl was arrested on suspicion of Section 47 assault causing actual bodily harm. She was released under investigation while police looked to identify everyone involved.
Community policing superintendent Karl Baldwin described the video of this assault as ‘completely reprehensible’ and said to share it online was ‘humiliating’.
Christine Pratt, founder of the National Bullying Helpline, told the Echo: ‘What’s happening is really disturbing. Parents report it to us when they hear about what has happened but a lot of the time they don’t hear. The behaviour of videoing the assault and putting it on social media is ongoing intimidation and cyber bullying.
‘It is seen as sport and amusement by the children involved. There will be a tragedy if something isn’t done. I honestly don’t think something will be done until it happens to a politician’s child.
‘But we also don’t know that there hasn’t already been a tragedy – child suicide is on the rise at the moment and we know how traumatising these incidents are for those involved.’
Shocking footage published by the Liverpool Echo shows an attack on a girl
Ms Pratt said there are some children who will participate or goad the attackers, but others who feel traumatised by seeing it happen.
The expert said schools need to collaborate with police and charities so children feel comfortable enough to report incidents.
According to reports, another attack – also in Old Rough Park – involved a 13-year-old girl being punched and stamped on by a gang of teenagers after six months of bullying.
Her parents said she suffered severe cuts and bruising during the attack.
The girl’s mother claimed the incident was filmed by older children and one even encouraged the attacker to punch her in the face rather than the back of her head.
They are also moving away from the area.
In yet another example of the distressing trend, a 13-year-old girl was allegedly dragged to the ground and kicked in the head by youngsters before Easter – then video was shared by children in Rochdale.
Billy the half-brother, and legal guardian of the victim told Sky News: ‘I believe this was created solely for the content of the internet.’
He added: ‘A child is going to lose their life from this craze. It’s happening all over the country.’
MailOnline has contacted Merseyside Police and Greater Manchester Police for comment on the incidents described.
