Post by lennie on Oct 24, 2006 6:24:47 GMT -5
DVD of girl attack sparks cyber-bullying warning
The father of a teenage girl is today warning other parents about the dangers of cyber-bullying.
The father, known only as Alan, says he was filled with rage when he discovered that his daughter had been humiliated and filmed by teenage boys she first met through the Internet, and that a DVD of the incident is being sold in some Melbourne high schools.
Victorian police are investigating the production and distribution of the DVD.
It allegedly shows about 10 boys abusing the girl.
Alan says his 17-year-old daughter made friends with two boys in an Internet chat room five months ago, and arranged to meet them on a Friday night.
"She got to the station, the two boys were there," he said.
"They've walked her down the platform, there were another 10 boys there.
"A couple of them she has met, she knew them by sight.
"She was instantly ... I don't know what state she was in, but she was surrounded by them in a half circle. She tried to get away and they surrounded her.
"Within two minutes they walked her across the road and down onto the riverbank.
"She's talking to the boy she knows, saying 'I'm not happy' ... they get her down onto the riverbank and within two minutes they are abusing her."
Alan says his daughter was filmed as she was assaulted and humiliated by the group.
"They've asked her to pull up her top, write the title of the movie which she didn't know," he said.
"All I know is that they've abused her and left her crying on the bank."
Alan says his daughter is receiving counselling.
"It's a horrible, horrible thing that's happened to my daughter," he said.
"I'm appealing to any parent whose son or daughter might be in possession of this video. Your son and daughter will be seeing something that should never happen to any young girl.
"We're going to be living with this forever."
Cyber-bullying on the rise
The Australian High Tech Crime Centre's director, Kevin Zuccato, says the case is a disturbing example of cyber-bullying.
He says research over the last 12 months shows that cases such as this one are increasingly common across Australia.
"Cyber-bullying between children online is on the rise," he said.
"Identity theft is on the rise.
"Social networking sites [are] also putting children at risk."
The High Tech Crime Centre and the Australian Federal Police are today launching a new school program to tackle cyber-bullying.
They want parents and teachers to talk much more with children about exactly what they're doing on the Internet.
Alan says he did monitor his daughter's Internet use.
He is urging other parents to be vigilant.
"It's a warning to parents that Internet technology needs to be supervised ... if I could say to parents, start listening to professionals about what can occur," he said.
"I just want the parents of all the boys who participated in this to know that they've caused us great grief."
School students warned
Meanwhile, Werribee Secondary College in Melbourne is warning its students about the DVD.
One student caught selling the DVD has agreed to leave the college.
The principal, Steve Butyn, says the school is appalled at the production of the film.
"We've actually instigated our student health and well being processes to look after youngsters who have come to the attention of our year level coordinators - perhaps students who become distressed with what's been happening, what's taken place over the last 24 hours," he said.
The father of a teenage girl is today warning other parents about the dangers of cyber-bullying.
The father, known only as Alan, says he was filled with rage when he discovered that his daughter had been humiliated and filmed by teenage boys she first met through the Internet, and that a DVD of the incident is being sold in some Melbourne high schools.
Victorian police are investigating the production and distribution of the DVD.
It allegedly shows about 10 boys abusing the girl.
Alan says his 17-year-old daughter made friends with two boys in an Internet chat room five months ago, and arranged to meet them on a Friday night.
"She got to the station, the two boys were there," he said.
"They've walked her down the platform, there were another 10 boys there.
"A couple of them she has met, she knew them by sight.
"She was instantly ... I don't know what state she was in, but she was surrounded by them in a half circle. She tried to get away and they surrounded her.
"Within two minutes they walked her across the road and down onto the riverbank.
"She's talking to the boy she knows, saying 'I'm not happy' ... they get her down onto the riverbank and within two minutes they are abusing her."
Alan says his daughter was filmed as she was assaulted and humiliated by the group.
"They've asked her to pull up her top, write the title of the movie which she didn't know," he said.
"All I know is that they've abused her and left her crying on the bank."
Alan says his daughter is receiving counselling.
"It's a horrible, horrible thing that's happened to my daughter," he said.
"I'm appealing to any parent whose son or daughter might be in possession of this video. Your son and daughter will be seeing something that should never happen to any young girl.
"We're going to be living with this forever."
Cyber-bullying on the rise
The Australian High Tech Crime Centre's director, Kevin Zuccato, says the case is a disturbing example of cyber-bullying.
He says research over the last 12 months shows that cases such as this one are increasingly common across Australia.
"Cyber-bullying between children online is on the rise," he said.
"Identity theft is on the rise.
"Social networking sites [are] also putting children at risk."
The High Tech Crime Centre and the Australian Federal Police are today launching a new school program to tackle cyber-bullying.
They want parents and teachers to talk much more with children about exactly what they're doing on the Internet.
Alan says he did monitor his daughter's Internet use.
He is urging other parents to be vigilant.
"It's a warning to parents that Internet technology needs to be supervised ... if I could say to parents, start listening to professionals about what can occur," he said.
"I just want the parents of all the boys who participated in this to know that they've caused us great grief."
School students warned
Meanwhile, Werribee Secondary College in Melbourne is warning its students about the DVD.
One student caught selling the DVD has agreed to leave the college.
The principal, Steve Butyn, says the school is appalled at the production of the film.
"We've actually instigated our student health and well being processes to look after youngsters who have come to the attention of our year level coordinators - perhaps students who become distressed with what's been happening, what's taken place over the last 24 hours," he said.