Editorial: Bullying laws don't go far enough

No one will disagree that clamping down on cyber bullying is a great new step by the Government.

Anyone who entices someone to commit suicide will be punishable by up to three years in jail under new cyber-bullying laws revealed yesterday.

The new laws will create a new offence of using a communications device - like a mobile phone or computer - to cause harm, punishable by up to three months in jail or a $2000 fine.

You only need to take a look on Facebook or Twitter to see the cutting comments some people make about others.

This newspaper has taken a stand against bullying in the past, with our campaign last year called Stop The Hate which looked at all aspects of bullying, including speaking to perpetrators as well as victims.

But it is our view the new laws haven't gone far enough.

Why stop at cyber-bullying? All bullying is bad and is hugely damaging, especially to children.

No one has the right to make nasty comments about anyone else and it's just as bad in the school playground and in the street as it is online.

Bullying can be the start of more serious bad behaviour later in life for not only those who pick on others but those who cop it.

In Rotorua, a local family has paid the ultimate price of what was possibly text-bullying.

Hayley-Anne Fenton committed suicide in 2009 after receiving threatening texts from the wife of her boyfriend.

No one should have to go through that.

If bullying, in general, was taken more seriously then maybe there would be fewer suicides.