LONDON, Oct. 15 (UPI) -- The head of a British anti-bullying campaign advised members of Parliament Tuesday that cyberbullying should be made a criminal offense, lawmakers said.
Anthony Smythe, the managing director of Beatbullying, talked to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee in London Tuesday, The Daily Telegraph reported.
He said a number of other countries, including Canada, Ireland and Australia are considering similar legislation.
"A child will be bullied in the playground and that will continue online, and we need to make that link. A child will not see it as cyberbulling, just consistent and persistent bullying," he said. "Every time I have looked and reviewed the recommendation it has always been to make cyberbullying a criminal offense."
The push for cyberbulling legislation has increased since Hannah Smith, a 14-year-old from Leicestershire, committed suicide after she was bullied online, the Telegraph reported.
