Bullying caught on video at Sacred Heart College in San Ignacio

A disturbing video reportedly recorded inside a classroom at Sacred Heart College in San Ignacio is now circulating on social media and has sparked concerns over bullying and student violence within schools.  The thirty-seven second clip appears to show one female student physically assaulting another student while several classmates either watched, recorded the incident on their cellular phones, or moved out of the classroom as the confrontation unfolded.

At the start of the video, the alleged victim is seen seated in a classroom chair when another student grabs her by the collar and forcibly pulls her from the seat before repeatedly pounding on her. During the altercation, the victim appears to plead with the aggressor to leave her alone, but those cries seemingly went ignored as the attack continued inside the classroom.  Love News made direct contact with Sacred Heart College Principal Cambranes seeking comment on the incident and to determine what disciplinary or anti-bullying measures may be implemented by the institution. However, the principal declined comment on the matter and also refused to discuss whether the school has a formal policy in place to address bullying among students.  Meanwhile, the matter has now been reported to police. During today’s police press briefing, ASP Stacy Smith explained that police are now looking into the incident and outlined how authorities would generally approach such a case involving minors and school violence.

ASP Stacy Smith, Belize Police Department: “Starting point would be the consideration for criminal liability whether those persons are of age to be criminally liable but in tandem with that our department has a community policing unit that offers mediation and conflict resolution. We’ve been saying that it appears to be an ongoing incident and it’s most regrettable that it culminated in this manner and interceptions were not made before it came to this but certainly when it comes to matters as such especially involving young people and persons who are attending school the interests would not be to deal with them in such a way that it detracts from them getting their education but similarly accountability is important so the end game is usually trying to find a middle ground between the two. I know that there is the diversion program if it is that it reaches a point that charges would be levied, there is a diversion program which offers some social integration and rehabilitation aspect to the offender and it also preserves whatever relationship going forward because as you said they’re attending the same school so it’s likely that they will be interacting with each other in the future but as I said it’s something that I just came to know I don’t know the facts of it but those are the general guiding principles when it comes to police’s interaction with situations as such.”

Love News understands that the parent of the child victim has made a formal report to the police.  Best information to our newsroom is that the girls in the video are cousins.  We will keep following this story.