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School 'happy slap' probe
A SCHOOL is investigating claims a disabled boy was beaten in a school classroom while bullies captured the footage on a mobile phone.
The so-called "happy-slapping" attack came to light when the 14-year-old boy's older brothers were shown the video, filmed at Dyke House School in Hartlepool, by youngsters passing around a mobile.
Headteacher Bill Jordon today said the school was investigating the incident in line with its anti-bullying policy.
The boy's mother, who did not wish to be named, claimed: "The footage shows my son being slapped around the head.
"My son has cerebral palsy and other problems and he is actually seeing a consultant regularly because he had an operation on his head when he was younger.
"Any blows to the head could cause serious problems."
The mother who says her son was attacked on Friday, claims he was then subjected to a similar assault on Monday. As a result he was kept off school yesterday.
Mr Jordon said he was made aware of the attack when the boy was reported to be absent on Tuesday.
"We are aware of this latest incident, and have spoken to the parents of the child involved to find a way forward.
"All reported incidents of bullying are dealt with as individual cases, as and when they occur, and we are dealing with this one to ensure there is no repeat."
The mother added: "My other two sons were shown footage of the latest incident by kids passing a mobile phone around, and they told me straight away what had happened.
"I think every kid in Hartlepool must have seen it by now. I want the bullying stopped.
"Mobile phones should be banned in my opinion to stop this sort of thing happening."
Mr Jordon added: "Every school in the country has a way of tackling bullying and we are no different. We all have a serious view of this.
"It is not about having a piece of paper on the wall saying you have a successful anti-bullying policy in school – which incidentally we do – it is about how you tackle it.
A spokesman for Hartlepool Borough Council said: "Tackling bullying in schools is a top priority within our children and young people's plan.
"All schools in the town have adopted anti-bullying status and as an authority we have staff who are around to support them in tackling bullying in its various forms."
Happy-slapping is thought to have originated as a craze in south London in 2005 before becoming a nationwide phenomenon.Videos of victims being slapped around the head are sent to other mobile phones and posted on the internet.
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Weather for Hartlepool
Monday 28 May 2012
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