Is support from the wider community (eg police, bus companies, outside agencies) important?

It has been argued that a good anti-bullying policy should take into account the role and involvement of not just teaching and non-teaching staff (for example kitchen staff), but of the wider community. This includes not just families but others from the local community who are directly or indirectly involved with the school including school bus drivers, doctors, shopkeepers and police, youth clubs and scouts. It is pointed out that if for example, shopkeepers and bus drivers felt they were part of a school community which did not tolerate bullying, they could, in their daily contact with pupils look out for and report bullying incidents, which might otherwise go unnoticed. Likewise doctors could use their unique knowledge to alert the school to a possible bullying problem. In the Republic of Ireland there is formal input into anti bullying programmes from the Gardai (police). Over 600 guardia are specially trained and involved in primary schools.
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Article details

B J Byrne (1997) 'Bullying: a community approach', paper in the journal 'The Irish Journal of Psychology', Volume 18, Number 2. Special Issue: 'Bullying Behaviour in Schools.' Guest editor A M O'Moore.
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