Parents of bullies could be fined and jailed under new law

Officials hope to crack down on public bullying

The town, in Niagara county, set the law into effect on 1 October (File photo) (Getty)

Parents of bullies in a New York State town could be fined and jailed under a new law.

If their children are caught bullying other children twice in three months, adults face a $250 (£190) fine and 15 days in prison.

Members of the North Tonawanda council hope the measure will force parents to take responsibility for their children’s actions, the NY Daily News reported.

The town, in Niagara county, set the law into effect on 1 October.

It means parents face sanction if their offspring violate the town’s curfew or any other rules, including ones aimed at bullies, twice in a 90-day period.

Officials in North Tonawanda, a town of some 31,000 people, hope to crack down on children bullying their peers in public, the Daily News said.

Earlier this year in Indiana, a young pupil was escorted to school by a squadron of 50 bikers after suffering a campaign of bullying.

Brent Warfield, the director of United Motorcycle Enthusiasts, organised the ride after he was told of the boy’s experiences.

He said: “These kids, they can’t even get away from it with social media and all that.”