Junior Jury: bullying
What are young people's views on violence and bullying. Children's Express reporters investigate.
| I don’t think violent people really deserve punishment - it’s more psychological help they need. |
Gavin Mather, 13, Cowgate
Abuse can be mental, physical, against child or adult. I know people who have been through some bad situations. I think bullies do what they do because they like to feel big. There's not a certain kind of person who is violent - it could be anybody.
It's mostly the way bullies have been brought up that makes them who they are. People commit violence because they are scared or there might be something going on at home. People can go to Childline if they need help. I don't think violent people really deserve punishment - it's more psychological help they need because putting them in a prison just makes them more angry. There are different types of violence in other countries like war and people who are allowed firearms. I think both men and women are the same when it comes to being violent and abusing.
Liam Caine, 10, Cowgate
I think there are loads of different types of abuse like shouting and getting angry. I felt bad for a friend who was going to get chinned when he was coming off a bus. Bullies think they are clever and funny. There are lots of people who can be violent from parents to teachers and people who drink.
I don't really know what help there is for young people who have been through violence. People who commit violence should go to clubs. Violent people need help with their personality. There is also bullying by name calling.
Michael Holland, 12, Blakelaw
There is physical and non physical abuse. I don't know of any bullying that goes on around me though. I think bullies do what they do because they just want to make trouble. It's bad people that are violent and it's the way that bullies grow up that makes them do what they do. I'm not sure what help there is for young people who have been bullied. Violent people need help to get their attitude changed.
Liam Storey, 12, Cowgate
The kinds of abuse I can think of are rape and when people are getting attacked in the streets. I don't know why but bullies just pick on people, I think it's the way they grow up but I don't know what help they can get. I don't think women are more violent than men because men go out more with knives and guns. There's definitely more men doing it.
Amy Soanes, 10, Cowgate
There is bullying that goes on around me and when someone has been through a bad situation like that it's sad. The bullies do what they do so they can look hard. It's the way that bullies grow up that makes them what they are. People who commit violence are looking for attention.
Punishment for violent people should be grown-ups jailed for life and young kids grounded for life because they hurt other people. People who are violent need psychiatric help. Women are as violent as men but I think there are more men.
Lisa Lee, 13, Cowgate
There's lots of abuse like sexual harassment and verbal. I know of people who have been bullied and I think its evil and not nice for the people who have been through it. Bullies do what they do because they like to think they are hard. They should have psychiatric help.
I don't know what places young people can go to if someone has been violent to them. Violent people need to sort themselves out. It's vulnerable people that they go for. I don't think that men commit more violence than women.
Rebecca Slade, 12, Cowgate
Abuse is hitting and bashing someone for no reason. I don't know of any bullying though around me. I think bullies are trying to get attention because it's the way they have been brought up. If a young person is violent they are put into a detention home because they don't deserve to be out playing if they are bullying people. Some women can be as violent as men but I think that more men do it.
About the team
Interviews by Kirsten Caine and Carly Storey, 13. Junior Jury is a weekly column in the Newcastle Evening Chronicle.
