The recent infamous bullying incident at Marsaxlokk rightly made the headlines. However, it is by no means the one and only case of bullying in our midst. Road rage incidents are not uncommon although many of them remain under the radar and do not get publicity.

Moreover, there are several incidents of aggression faced by well-behaved citizens in sensitive environments such as the Paceville area.

Arrogant, intimidating or aggressive attitudes, like shouting and swearing at whoever even politely stands up to irregular or uncivilised behaviour, are another form of bullying. We see it regularly in the streets, it is common during village feasts.

The general feeling is that if our society is to succeed in dealing properly with situations where the impulses to physical bullying and especially when violence takes over, the law needs to show muscle and court sentences need to be tough to serve as a deterrent.

Yet, the tools that need to be applied to tackle better the bullying phenomenon as a whole and to protect properly its innocent victims do not start and end with the punitive measures. Educational and correctional tools are essential.

One other problem could be in the form of spreading ugly rumours about other people. Nowadays such bullying also takes place online or electronically where people, especially the young, bully each other online.

Another form of bullying might include abuse of power tactics, for instance scheming to keep a person out of a team or group, even if he is perfectly qualified to be there.

However one looks at it, the phenomenon presents a big challenge which requires a serious coordinated national response.

There is an urgent need for an anti-bullying strategy that addresses the phenomenon in all its aspects - indirect, verbal, cyber and physical.

The point of departure should be an unequivocal stand by all leaders, by word and deed, that all forms of bullying are unacceptable, cannot and should not be tolerated and that young and old should be and feel safe from bullying.

This could be followed with a comprehensive research of the problem to assess its local dimension from its different angles, the causes, the kind of educational and legislative responses required and where the main remedial focus should be.

One basic target should be to establish the more common face-to-face bullying in schools, at work and on the road, as well as cyber bullying, which has also been raised by the Malta Union of Teachers in its pre-general elections memorandum to the political parties.

The former form of bullying has been with us for a very long time and is very worrying. The latter appears to be increasingly raising its head through painful or embarrassing pictures or videos posted on the internet with all the negative effects this has on victims.

We have to aim at developing, hand in hand, a culture where every person is treated with dignity and respect, and that takes seriously the responsibility to treat others in the same way. Doing so is not easy because it requires dealing with a growing laissez-faire attitude prevalent among youngsters where anything is acceptable.

At the same time, if and when abuse takes place, especially when rage reigns supreme, the authorities need to come down hard. Such behaviour must be strongly resisted and disciplined. Unfortunately, our laws have often failed to protect the victim.