Timmins Police have laid several criminal charges against a 13-year old Timmins youth following reports of several incidents related to bullying at a local school.
Timmins Police patrol officers began investigating the incidents following reports from two victims.
Police say the investigation revealed that the victims had been assaulted by an individual at school, as well as threatened on multiple occasions over the past several years.
“The degree of bullying and the seriousness of the charges is something we don’t often see,” said Kate Cantin, Timmins Police Communication Coordinator.
The suspect, a 13-year-old Timmins youth, is facing two charges of assault with a weapon, five assault charges and four charges of uttering threats. The youth was released on a promise to appear in court.
Pursuant to the Youth Criminal Justice Act, the youth’s name cannot be released.
“Timmins police have a good working relationship with Timmins schools and community officers frequently are in the schools working with the principals and students,” Cantin said.
Cantin explained that Timmins Police has bullying awareness days in the schools were they help students understand what bullying is and what can be done to prevent or stop bullying behaviour.
“Bullying is an action that is persistent over a prolonged period of time and involves someone more powerful trying to intimidate or threatening violence on someone else,” Cantin said.
“It’s important to know what constitutes bullying,” Cantin said. “Having an argument or a disagreement with another student is not bullying.”
Cantin said Timmins Police officers take all incidents of bullying very seriously and investigate all reports of suspected bullying.
The Community Services section, as well as TPS School Liaison officers work to ensure that students are able to recognize bullying and understand the potential consequences.
“We hope that the presence of police liaison officers in the school will encourage students to come forward and reveal bullying activities to the police or the principal,” Cantin added.
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