Albury police in schools officer Francine Lee said many young people were writing off their behaviour as “childhood larrikinism” without realising they may be committing a criminal offence.

She said the consequences of harassment through online devices, sending threats or passing on sexually explicit photographs through mobile phones ranged from prison sentences to fines in the thousands of dollars.

“Adults realise mobile phones are simply tools of communication but young people look at these instruments as toys,” Sen-Constable Lee said.

“At the end of the day it comes down to parents being aware of what their children are up to and teaching them about productive friendships and how to cope with conflict.”

While cyber-bullying has forced students to wag school or make excusesto stay home, in some cases principals have recommended families seek advice from police.

While the majority of students are unaffected, Border schools have admitted recording up to 10 cases of cyber-bullying each year with cases ranging from minor name-calling to harassment over a long period.

Albury High School principal Ian Crossley had suggested families contact police over severe cases of harassment.

Catholic College wellbeing leader Louise Symons said she had seen an increase in the number of students staying home during the past three years due to being sent negative text or internet messages at home.

“The interesting thing is that a lot of the conflict between students comes from messages being misinterpreted,” she said.

Meanwhile, Wodonga Senior Secondary College staff said “a handful” of students had been suspended in the past 12 to 18 months because of cyber-bullying.

“We’re lucky that we can track down instances of bullying through our email system fairly quickly,” assistant principal Cassandra Walters said.

“Often we’ll hold a meeting between the person feeling threatened and the person sending the messages in order to bring more responsibility to the offender, because it’s very easy to send an email or text knowing you don’t have to deal with the reaction at the other end.”