POLICE are probing a vigilante website which was set up to try to turn the tables on bullies at a north-east secondary school.
The controversial forum was launched to name and shame “troublemakers” at Mintlaw Academy. The identify of the Poma Page’s creator is a mystery but it is now under investigation amid complaints of cyber-bullying and offensive comments directed at a named local family. The site’s original aim was to stop bullies picking on younger children – by threatening to expose them online. Poma – Pupil of Mintlaw Academy – has led to a witch-hunt at the secondary, as pupils try to pinpoint who is behind it.
Some have even posted threats that they will assault a named pupil every day unless Poma reveals his or her identity. Two rival web pages have also been launched – one calling for the original site to be shut down and the other threatening to reveal the name of Poma’s creator.
Police investigating complaints from the families of pupils have visited the school and spoken to staff.
A force spokeswoman said last night: “Police have attended at the school and our investigation is ongoing.” An Aberdeenshire Council spokesman added: “We can confirm that we are aware of the site in question and are liaising with Police Scotland on the matter. As it is currently the subject of ongoing criminal investigation it would be inappropriate for us to comment further at this stage.”
The mother of one pupil said: “I think what they’re doing is really dangerous. I can see why bullying could lead someone to do this, but it’s not helping. If anything, it seems to be making matters worse.
“Whoever is behind this seems to take great joy in winding folk up. It needs to be shut down before it gets completely out of hand.”
Local councillor Norman Smith said: “This is something the police need to get to the bottom of and, if there is an issue at the school, it needs to be addressed.
“I don’t believe that there is a significant bullying problem at the academy – certainly no more than at other secondary schools.”
In a recent post, Poma’s creator writes about trying to reach “an agreement” with two alleged bullies. “My offer to them was that I will delete all that I have done and I will not make any more posts about them in the future, so long as they do not hurt anyone,” the page’s author wrote.
“Their offer to me was that I am to be beaten and publicly shamed by them and I was to stop.
“If I was to refuse (two alleged victims) will be ‘killed’. By all of them.”
A follow-up post reads: “I offered to stop ‘cyber-bullying’ them, as long as they stopped bullying others.
“If anyone wants to make me feel guilty at the prospects of these people’s suicides, tell these people to act a bit more suicidal and less aggressive towards people without reason.” In another message, Poma states the police “have no idea who I am and no idea if I am close to them or not”.
Several years ago, a probe was carried out by council education chiefs after a spate of allegations about bullying at the school. On one occasion, staff advised a pupil to stay off school for their own safety.
Comment, Page 32