Calls for parents and teachers across the North East to tackle bullying.

Anti-bullying charities in the North East say online abuse has made the problem worse - and both parents and teachers need to work together to tackle it.

New figures, released ahead of anti-bullying week, show the problem of bullying is still as rife in our schools - with nearly half of kids saying they've been a bullied.

A third said they'd also been bullied online.

Children want adults to show more respect for each other, as worrying numbers of 11 to 16 year-olds witness adults setting a bad example by bullying and disrespecting each other.

The results of a poll, published by the Anti-Bullying Alliance ahead of Anti-Bullying Week 2018, suggest that over four-in-ten children (41%) have seen adults bullying each other during the last six months, with an even greater number (60%) witnessing grown-ups being disrespectful to other adults.

Children said they saw much of the adult bullying take place face-to-face (21%), but had also come across it online (18%) or in the media (20%).

More than 4 in 5 of the children polled (87%) also reported having seen children bullying each other. The majority (76%) had seen this happen at school, with a third (34%) seeing it online and a quarter (27%) seeing it in their communities.

The results come as children continue to suffer on the receiving end of hurtful behavior. Nearly half of the children surveyed (45%) said they had been bullied face to face at least once during the last six months, with over a third (34%) saying they had been bullied online over the same period. Worryingly, the equivalent of one child in every classroom (4%) said they had been bullied face-to-face or online every day over the last six months.

However, nearly all children surveyed (98%) said that showing respect to each other is important and that it is possible to be respectful even if you disagree with someone else. 97% said adults should set a good example and show more respect for each other.

The Anti-Bullying Alliance, with the continued support of SafeToNet, is encouraging everyone to ‘Choose Respect’ during Anti-Bullying Week. The campaign, expected to be supported in approximately three-quarters of schools in England, takes place from 12 to 16 November.

CBeebies star Andy Day and Anti-Bullying Alliance patron, and his band Andy and the Odd Socks, have launched a new song in support of Anti-Bullying Week 2018 and are encouraging students to wear odd socks to school during the campaign to show their support and raise money for a good cause.

On Thursday of Anti-Bullying Week, the Anti-Bullying Alliance has teamed up with The Royal Foundation and The Duke of Cambridge to support their Royal Cyberbullying Taskforce to shine a spotlight on cyberbullying by holding ‘Stop Speak Support Day’ which encourages young people to become upstanders when they encounter bullying online.

Martha Evans, Director of the Anti-Bullying Alliance, said:

"Children who experience bullying are at higher risk of experiencing a range of mental health issues and leaving school with fewer qualifications. The impact of bullying can last well in to adulthood. We need children to learn that we don’t have to be best friends with each other or always agree with each other but this is never an excuse for bullying or hurtful behavior. We must always choose respect. We are urging adults to role model the ‘choose respect’ message, and help us stop bullying in schools to prevent it from affecting so many children’s lives."

Richard Pursey, CEO of SafeToNet, said:

"SafeToNet is delighted to once again support Anti-Bullying Week. We’re passionate about safeguarding children’s online experience from all kinds of cyber abuse, while allowing them to enjoy all of the positive benefits that the internet and social media provide. Bullying, whether online or offline, can have a damaging effect on young people’s lives and we all need to do everything we can to choose and show respect."