CYBER-BULLYING has reached epidemic proportions in Albury-Wodonga, with police on both sides of the border forced to deal with the phenomenon on a daily basis.
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Officers dealing with school and youth issues in Albury and Wodonga told The Border Mail internet and mobile phone harassment among young
people had got “out of control” in the past 18 months.
Leading Sen-Constable Kevin Mack, youth resources officer with Wodonga police, said young people were often ignorant of the fact they were breaking the law.
“I would speak to someone every day about a problem with a young person’s texting or computer use,” he said.
“They’re putting themselves in a difficult position because they’re risking the tenor of the law by doing what they’re
doing.
“Stalking is a clearly definable charge – not just physical stalking, it can be cyber-stalking.
“They don’t realise that; they think it’s just a forum.”
While police in Victoria and NSW can pursue criminal charges for stalking, intimidation or harassment online or via telephone under state legislation, Sen-Constable Mack acknowledged advancing technologies sometimes created difficulties.
“From a community perspective, our laws are not in line with what occurs in terms of the internet,” he said.
Sen-Constable Mack said parents and their children needed to be more aware of the consequences of sending malicious content online or via telephone.
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