PUPILS took a united stand against bullying for a new campaign launched by Dorset County Council.

Nearly 100 young people attended an annual conference at Kingston Maurward College, near Dorchester, as part of national Anti-Bullying Week.

Anti-Bullying Week is usually aimed at teachers, but this year the workshops were also held for pupils from schools countywide.

During the workshops pupils acted out playground scenarios, watched a series of short films and watched presentations from police officers.

The theme for this year’s conference, organised by Dorset County Council and the police’s Safe Schools and Communities Team, was cyber bullying because it appears to be on the rise.

Research conducted by the National Centre for Social Research found that cyber-bullying – by mobile phone, email or websites – is the most common form.

Yvonne Surman, who is safe school and communities team manager said: “More and more children and young people are being bullied through cyberspace.

“With more children and young people using mobile phones and sites like Facebook, Twitter, Bebo and chat rooms, there is no escape from cyber-bullying and it can take place 24 hours a day.”

The week is co-ordinated by the Anti-Bullying Alliance, which supports victims and encourages children to speak out against it.

The alliance is made up of 65 voluntary organisations, public sector bodies and private sector institutions who work together to produce safer environments for children.

TEENAGERS from Steps Youth Club in Weymouth have been urging young people to be aware of the dangers when using social networking websites like Facebook and Bebo.

Amber McNaughton, 16, of Westham, is one of the teenagers who is part of the youth club in Chickerell Road and said cyber-bullying was a common issue.

She said that she deleted her Bebo account after becoming a victim.

“I have heard a lot of people saying they have received nasty messages on their Facebook or Bebo sites.

“When I was 13 I had quite a gothic Bebo page and lots of people sent me nasty notes and even hacked into my account and replaced all my pictures with Playboy images.

“I think it’s all too easy for people to bully people over the internet because it’s a less personal way.

“But they forget that there is a person behind the computer screen.

“It’s easier for people to express aggressive thoughts and feelings when they’re not there right in front of the other person. I find Facebook is a lot better because it’s aimed at older teenagers and young people so it is more mature, but even so you should only ever accept friendship requests from people you know.”