Quarter of children 'bullied' by adults

ALMOST a quarter of children claim to have been bullied by adults in the past 12 months.

A survey published yesterday involving nearly 7,000 youngsters aged between 10 and 15, showed 23 per cent said they had been picked on or treated unfairly by adults at home or in the community over the past year.

The findings revealed the most bullied group were black African and Caribbean children, with 29 per cent saying they had suffered at the hands of grown-ups, compared with 18 per cent of white children.

Disabled young people also felt more unfairly treated, with 38 per cent saying they had been bullied and only 19 per cent of their non-disabled counterparts saying the same.

A 14-year-old boy described his experience saying: "I often feel bullied by adults in my area.

"I sometimes feel I am not listened to, both at school and at home. I try my best to make myself heard but most of the time I just end up frustrated and it lands me in trouble."

Bob Reitemeier, chief executive of The Children's Society, said the results of the study caused worry about the way children were being treated by their elders.

He said: "With a quarter of all children telling us they have been bullied or treated unfairly either by peers or adults over a 12 month period, it is vital that more is done to support young people who are being victimised in this way."