School bullying linked to crime

Violent crime could be 'significantly reduced' if bullying at school were eliminated, a conference organised by the National Children's Bureau in Manchester was told yesterday.

A quarter of bullies go on to become young offenders, to commit violent crimes or to abuse members of their families. Delwyn Tattum, co-director of Cardiff Institute of Higher Education's centre for research into bullying, said: 'The message is that if you reduce school bullies you will cut down on violent crime.'