New text bully complaint processes help stop abuse!
Media release
Internet Safety Group
1 November 2006
In Auckland today, NetSafe - The Internet Safety Group, the NZ Police, Telecom and Vodafone launched new standardised processes for dealing with text bullying or mobile phone harassment. The new processes enable swifter and more effective action to be taken in cases of mobile bullying and harassment involving threats of harm.
The Police have developed clear guidelines for frontline officers dealing with criminal mobile phone harassment where there have been threats of harm. Also, the telcos have aligned their processes removing the ambiguity that arose from cases spanning multiple telecommunications providers.
''It's now easier for the targets of the harassment. A person who receives 4 or more unwanted text messages (and is not replying) can call their telco and lodge a complaint straight away. '', says Lee Chisholm, NetSafe's Programmes Manager.
''If anyone receives a threat of harm, they should go to the Police with the message'', says Lee.
''Prior to the development of the new processes, text bullying complaints were categorised as either requiring Police action or at a level to be dealt with by Vodafone or Telecom. Under these new rules, if victims experience threats of harm they can take their case to the Police while also asking the telco to send a warning to the offender. If the offender continues to make contact, they can be cut off the network completely'' says Lee.
''The Police, NetSafe, Telecom and Vodafone all understand how serious text bullying is and can help victims to stop the harassment'' says Lee.
In Feb 2006 NetSafe facilitated Telecom, Vodafone and the NZ Police to meet to improve processes and communication around text bully and harassment cases, and the group has been working together to develop a single process for dealing with text bullying ever since.
Release ends
For further comment contact
Ms. Lee Chisholm or Rachel Harrison
(m) 021 666 562 (m) 021 333 198
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