WARNING: Disturbing content
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Cyber bullying experts and parents are calling for police to lay charges after disturbing videos were circulated of public bashings targeting schoolgirls in Ballarat’s Little Bridge Street precinct this week.
Up to five Snapchat videos obtained by The Courier show girls being set upon in the car park, bus stop and Bakery Hill McDonald’s as other teens watch on.
It's understood the videos have been widely circulated on social media, increasing the risk of victims suffering from long-term conditions such as depression and anxiety, according to leading Victorian psychologists.
One Snapchat video captioned "you had it coming" shows a girl assaulting another girl at the bus stop as boys encourage her and taunt the victim.
"Get that angle, f*ck yeah," one boy says while someone films the bashing on a mobile phone.
Michael Carr-Gregg, one of the Australia’s top child and adolescent psychologists, said it was against the law to film and circulate footage of bashings under the charge of using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence.
"What we need to do is get the police to charge,” he said.
"We tend to see a reticence from police to criminalise young people, which I understand, but we've also got to send a clear message."
Mr Carr-Gregg also said the filming of assaults could worsen the trauma of victims.
“You’ve got digital humiliation over and over again, it’s repeated and we know this can impact on children adversely,” he said.
“We’re talking about anxiety, depression, self harm and, in some cases, suicidal ideation.”
The assault of a girl in Bakery Hill McDonald’s was also captured on video, showing her being stomped on after falling to the ground.
“Every time my daughter closes her eyes and tries to sleep the bashing plays over in her mind, having people laughing at the situation,” the mother of the victim of the McDonald’s assault told The Courier.
“It’s devastating hearing my daughter being beaten (on the video).
“It’s hard to see, it brought me to tears after one of my daughter’s friends found it and sent it to her.”
In another video, a girl sits against a brick wall before being kicked in the face by another girl as onlookers point and laugh.
"That was f*cking hectic," one boy is heard saying as he watches on.
Natalie, whose daughter was left bleeding after being kicked in the face and assaulted on a bus in Little Bridge Street last week, said the bashings and filming of the abuse must stop.
“I feel like the filming encourages it, they’re all in on it,” she said. “This can make kids take their own lives.
“It’s not ok for people to behave like that, there’s old people and little kids around Little Bridge Street a lot and they’re subjected to that.
“People should feel safe when they’re taking the bus.”
Police said on Wednesday investigators were in the process of reviewing CCTV footage of when Natalie’s daughter was attacked.
They urged anyone who may have mobile phone footage of the incident on the bus to come forward.
The vice principal of a Ballarat high school said he was aware of the assault last week.
Cyber safety expert Susan McLean said responsibility fell not only on police but also on Ballarat’s schools to help stop the fights.
“This is not bullying - this is criminal - full stop,” she said.
“None of this is going to stop unless girls are arrested and charged.
“If the schools are aware of it, why aren't they doing anything about it?
“What (the offenders) need to be aware of is that the filming, uploading and sharing can get them into trouble and it is adding to the hurt.
“It’s a really sad reflection on society when someone would stand and film that rather than trying to break it up.”
- If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, phone Lifeline on 13 11 14.