Peer on Peer (Child on child) Abuse All staff should be aware that safeguarding issues can manifest themselves via peer on peer abuse. This is most likely to include, but may not be limited to, bullying (including cyberbullying), gender based violence/sexual assaults and sexting. Staff should be clear as to the school or college’s policy and procedures with regards to peer on peer abuse. KCSIE, 2016 Physical, sexual, emotional and financial abuse, and coercive control, exercised within young people’s relationships (Firmin 2013:50) Peer on Peer abuse does not occur in a vacuum, it occurs in a society where there are structures and norms that shape young people’s views, experiences and behaviour, as well as responses towards them.

Peer on peer abuse can manifest itself in many ways Peer on peer abuse can manifest itself in many ways. Governors and proprietors should ensure sexting and the school or college’s approach to it is reflected in the child protection policy. The department provides searching screening and confiscation advice for schools. The UK Council for Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS) Education Group has recently published sexting advice for schools and colleges. KCSIE, 2016

Governors and proprietors should ensure the child protection policy reflects the different gender issues that can be prevalent when dealing with peer on peer abuse. This could, for example, include girls being sexually touched/assaulted or boys being subject to initiation/hazing type violence. KCSIE, 2016 Perpetrators 12+ male Girls Age 10+ Boys Learning difficulties/disabilities LBTQ CYP from different communities …65.9% of the contact sexual abuse reported by children and young people was perpetrated by other children and young people under the age of 18 (Radford et al, 2011) A survey of 1,065 13-14 year olds found that 52.5 per cent had at least one experience of victimisation, perpetration or witnessing relationship abuse (Fox, et al., 2012) 25% CSE cases are peer-on-peer (Barnardo's, 2011a; Berelowitz, et al., 2012; Firmin, 2013c)

Allegations of abuse made against other children Staff should recognise that children are capable of abusing their peers. Governing bodies and proprietors should ensure their child protection policy includes procedures to minimise the risk of peer on peer abuse and sets out how allegations of peer on peer abuse will be investigated and dealt with. The policy should reflect the different forms peer on peer abuse can take, make clear that abuse is abuse and should never be tolerated or passed off as “banter” or “part of growing up”. It should be clear as to how victims of peer on peer abuse will be supported. KCSIE, 2016 It is vital for professionals to understand that the child who is perpetrating the abuse may also be at risk of harm. Professionals should make every effort to ensure that the perpetrator is also treated as a victim and undertake assessments to conclude this. Sensitive work must be undertaken with the child who is perpetrating, by helping them to understand the nature of their behaviour and the effect it has on others may prevent the abuse as a whole. 10 is the minimum age of criminal responsibility in England. Therefore, young people who abuse their peers from the age of ten are criminally responsible and culpable. Evidence suggests that children who abuse others may have suffered considerable disruption in their lives, been exposed to violence within the family, may have witnessed or been subject to physical or sexual abuse, have problems in their educational development, and may have committed other offences. Such children and young people are likely to be children in need, and some will in addition be suffering or at risk of significant harm, and may themselves be in need of protection. When the child is 10 years or over, the police will consult other agencies before seeking a decision from the Crown Prosecution Service to decide the most appropriate course of action within the criminal justice system.7.2In cases where criminal proceedings are taken against an alleged abusing child, Children’s Social Work Services must undertake a Social Work Assessment of need and he YOS should be added to the list of attendees at any meetings. Both the compilation of the YOs “ASSET” Profile and the Assessment will inform the overall needs of the child or young person required to address their harmful behaviours. LSCB

Important Points Awareness of issue Ethos Curriculum Risk of potential harm Policies

The following table highlights the reducing concern of bullying with advancing age – this is consistent over time.  Do you ever feel afraid of going to school because of bullying? ‘Never’ * Do you ever feel scared to go to school because of other children? ‘No’ Year 2016 2014 2012 Direction 2 * 59.4% 60.9% 65.5% ò 4 57.3% 58.3% 56.3% 6 69.9% 69.7% 68.8% ñ 8 72.5% 71.8% 73.2% 10 78.4% 76.0% 80.8% In the last 12 months at school: At around 8, children develop the ability to consider the intent behind an action or choice, along with the ability to take another’s perspective. As a consequence, children became capable of intentional meanness and social exclusion. However, in large part, most children this age will engage in such behaviors at one point or other. They are not bullies, but rather individuals who are ineffectively trying to assert (expected) power within relationships in inappropriate ways. To effectively influence future choices and social outcomes, we can help 8- to 10-year olds learn the tools they need to engage in more positive social interactions. Year Been bullied Been a bully 2016 2014 2012 4 29.4% 27.6% 34.0% 3.1% 3.6% 5.6% 6 21.5% 22.2% 22.5% 1.5% 1.6% 8 19.3% 18.3% 18.6% 3.3% 4.5% 10 15.1% 16.9% 13.9% 5.0% 5.1% 5.8%

HRBQ Do you ever feel scared to go to schools because of other children? (Yr 2) No Males 67% Females 52% Do you think your school takes bullying seriously? (Yrs 4 & 6) Yes 78% Don't know 14% No 9% Do you ever feel afraid to go to school because of bullying? (Yrs 8 & 10) Sometimes/Often Males 18% Females 25%