THERE was standing room only in Girlington Community Centre tonight as more than 300 people attended the first public meeting aimed at stamping out bullying.

The event, Nip Bullying in the Bud, had been pulled together by Fatima Patel, head of business relations with the Asian Sunday newspaper, with help from members of the community.

It had been organised following the death last week of 11-year-old Asad Khan.

Asad hanged himself amid speculation he was being bullied and had said he was unhappy at attending Beckfoot Upper Heaton School where he had been for just three weeks.

Ms Patel told the packed audience the occasion was a chance for people to not only ask questions of the police and local education authority but also to do something positive.

"I want to set up a working group to work with existing organisations: police, schools, councils to make sure the system that is already in place is made more effective and more robust. This is not short-term, it is about every day and always. If you want to be pro-active we want to hear from you."

Speakers included Inspector Tom Casey, the neighbourhood inspector for Bradford West.

He said the investigation into Asad's death was continuing with dedicated detectives.

"We are following numerous lines of inquiry but at this time there is no evidence yet that correlates his death was because of bullying."

He also condemned false information which was being circulated on social media and asked for anyone with any information they may have about Asad to come forward.

He also explained that it was up to the politicians to make bullying a criminal offence but said there were areas already covered such as harassment, assault and cyber crimes.

He also said police attended all Bradford high schools regularly.

Judith Kirk, assistant directer of children's services with Bradford Council said she was there to take the thoughts of the community back so the council could learn what was needed.

She also said the council's responsibility in the case of Asad was to wait until the police inquiry was completed before they could make a statement.

Imam Alyas Karmani, chairman of Sharing Voices, Bradford, called on people to make changes to protect the vulnerable. "People need to be individually responsible, to learn lessons. Asad is not the first tragic child and will not be the last. We need to support the existing partnerships but we need more resources and more awareness."

Two members of the audience spoke of their own children's bullying at school and said they received little support from both the school or the police.

Others said there were cultural problems with children not reporting bullying because the bullies could be the children of family friends or relations. 

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Insp Casey said it was important people found ways of reporting such activities and said there were several ways to speak to the police and it could be done in complete confidence.

Others acknowledged that parents also had a duty to observe their own children.

One said: "What are we doing as parents? Are we turning a blind eye to what our own children are doing; when they come home with possessions and money? These are society issues and we are responsible in the way we raise our children."

His thoughts were acknowledged by Saeeda Ahmed, founder of Trescom, Bradford, who said parents needed to look at both sides. "If your child comes home looking like a gangster he is looking up to a gangster and you have to question it. Often these traits lead to drugs and crimes," she said.

Ms Ahmed also said schools could do more. "Two years ago I wrote to all the schools in Bradford offering courses on anti-cyber bullying and not one school responded," she said.

Paul Chand, a member of the Indian community, was applauded when he told people to listen to their children.
"When they come home from school, sit and speak with them for 15 minutes; just 15 minutes. Hear what they have to say, let them talk to you and be open with them."

Asad's aunt, Rehana Bibi, closed the meeting saying she felt middle schools should not have been taken away and said they were a perfect step between primary and upper schools.
"Asad was not ready for upper school," she said. 

She also added that Asad's family had said they were both overwhelmed and grateful for the support they had received.

Speaking after the meeting, Ms Patel said she had been thrilled with the number of people willing to be part of a working group and said people could join through the Facebook page: The Bradford Think Tank.

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