Local Conservatives have criticised as 'soft on bullies and hard on the bullied' a Haringey LEA policy paper on bullying at school presented to the Council's Executive on 16 September.

Conservatives say that bullying is rife in London's schools with many examples tantamount to rank criminality e.g. assault causing physical injury, demanding money with menaces etc. In such cases Conservatives say that the rights and safety of the bullied should be paramount with suspension/exclusion of the perpetrator(s) and early involvement of the police. Tories claim that the Council's policy towards bullying over-emphasises conciliation and counselling and relegates firmer actions such as police involvement/suspension to barely 3 sentences in a 13 page policy document.

Commenting on the policy, Peter Forrest, Conservative GLA Candidate for Enfield-Haringey said:

"The Council policy on bullying in schools is soft on bullies and hard on the bullied. It over-emphasises the pastoral approach to the problem when, faced with examples of rank criminality, the message should come across loud and clear that violent bullies will be suspended and face police action."

ENDS.