Warwickshire Police in partnership with Warwickshire County Council, Connexions, the Positive About Young People group and Stagecoach in Warwickshire have launched an innovative service to support young victims of bullying and racial harassment - text2talk.

Text2talk is a new mechanism for young people to text in a confidential message to help them stand up to the bullies without using more traditional and face to face methods.

Throughout the country, bullying causes distress and anxiety to many children. Victims often avoid reporting the problem because they feel uncomfortable about telling their teachers or family, or they fear reprisals. Warwickshire Police as part of their public consultation policy, asked young people about how best to report these incidents. They suggested that by using text messaging to report bullying, more victims would ask for help.

By taking young people's views into consideration and accepting that over 80% of young people now own or have use of a mobile phone:

How the system works: 1. The young person texts in 07786 200 999 to report bullying or racial harassment. 2. If the incident is bullying, then BULLY is texted in 3. If the incident is racial harassment, then RACIST is texted in. 4. If the person texting in the message wants help and support, then YES is texted in. 5. If the young person doesn't want any further contact with the partnership then, NO is texted in.

• The text message is received at Warwickshire Police headquarters where it is evaluated by a call handler in the Communications Centre. If the message is a YES message then a text dialogue with the young person will be established and the message will be passed on to the appropriate partner agency - to support and help the young person requesting help. txt2talk is a confidential service and any messages and requests for help will be dealt with very sensitively.
• If the message is a NO message, the young person will not be contacted.
• Every message will receive an automated response immediately and any call back requested is guaranteed within five working days but the aim is to get back to the young person within 24 hours where possible.
• Discreet contact will then be made with the young person, usually through the Connexions Youth Service, who will work in conjunction with the school, to support and help the victim. Perpetrators will also receive help to correct their unacceptable behaviour.

By providing text2talk the Warwickshire Partnership aims to:

• support young victims - effectively work with perpetrators to stop them bullying or racially harassing young people - increase reporting of bullying and racial harassment incidents through a medium that is convenient for young people - enable specialist partners to put together proactive work plans to counteract bullying and racial harassment - reduce anti-social behaviour across Warwickshire and make it a safer and more supportive environment for young people

A pilot project at three schools (chosen on a random basis) began on November 22 to ensure that the technology and the supporting process worked. It also evaluated the marketing of the service, to make sure information about the new service was being delivered effectively to young people. Over forty text messages have been received and referrals to partner agencies have already taken place.

text2talk was launched at St Benedicts RC High School in Alcester on February 21, when with the help of media coverage, news of the service is spreading around the County.

text2talk is being promoted at senior school assemblies and also by posters and marketing materials distributed to pupils.

Within the community, details about the service can be found on posters in police stations, libraries, doctors and dentists surgeries' and in community centres. Stagecoach is also displaying posters on their buses for the next two years free of charge.

The service has been set up following a successful bid by Warwickshire Police for a Home Office grant of £105,000 to provide support for young people suffering this type of victimisation. An additional grant of £40,000 was received from the local Positive About Young People group and Warwickshire Police have contributed £40,000.

The technology system which supports the service is simple and cost effective.