Moray could be home to a pilot scheme for an innovative new approach to tackle bullying.
The scale of the problem in the region was laid bare in shocking figures earlier this year which revealed nearly a third of school pupils had been bullied in the past 12 months.
Now an MSP wants the region to be the launch-pad for a scheme, which is believed to the first of its kind in the country, to tackle the problem.
The new approach will see victims of the abuse support each other while coming up with plans to stamp it out of society.
Highlands and Islands MSP, Rhoda Grant, said: “Bullying in all its forms is totally unacceptable. I’m currently discussing the possibility of making it a specific offence with other professionals but realise there are challenges to this approach.
“As a result of meeting people affected by bullying, I would like to work with young people in Moray, purely as part of a pilot area, to come up with a support service for their peers.
“I would like to see the members empowered as a group and be able to come up with plans and ideas to tackle bullying amongst young people in Moray.”
In April Moray Council revealed that 631 out of more than 2,000 P4 to S6 pupils that took part in a survey admitted to being bullied. Almost a third of them said they were abused “several times a week”.
Mrs Grant has already taken the fight against the victimisation online – setting up the anti-bullying website Tobie aimed at professionals.
A support service to support victims of bullying in the workplace has also been planned as part of the new scheme.
Mrs Grant said: “My idea is that my team and others would have supporting roles, more in an oversight capacity.
“I would like to work with other professionals and young people to try and make a difference in Moray as a pilot and if successful we could roll it our elsewhere.”
Anyone who wants to be part of the pilot support service should contact Mrs Grant by phoning 01463 716299 or e-mailing rhoda.grant.msp@parliament.scot