Many young people are suffering physical or sexual abuse at the hands of their peers, research suggests.
These attacks often include the use of a weapon, or end with victims sustaining injuries.
Beatbullying, which conducted the research, called for immediate action to tackle the “epidemic ” amid fears that bullying has moved a long way from “playground name-calling”.
The study, which questioned 1,001 16- to 25-year-olds about their experiences, found that three in 10 (30 per cent) had experienced some form of severe physical violence by their peers.
More than half of these said it had been an isolated incident, but one in nine (11 per cent) said it had occurred more than 10 times.
Over half said they had been attacked at school, with others reporting abuse in the community or on public transport, or at home.
More than half (52 people) said they sustained physical injuries as a result of the attack, while over a quarter (28 per cent) said the assault involved a weapon.
One in six (15 per cent) of those questioned said they had experienced some form of inappropriate sexual behaviour at the hands of another child.
While 48 per cent said this was an isolated incident, one in five (21 per cent) said the attacks had occurred more than six times.
Inappropriate sexual behaviour was more likely to occur in the community, for example on public transport, than anywhere else, the study found.
Over half (52 per cent) did not tell anyone about their experiences, it adds.
The research reveals that the young people who were subjected to physical attacks were more likely to play truant from school.
And those who suffered sexual assaults were more likely to report depression, feeling lonely and feeling sad later in life than those who had not faced such attacks.
Beatbullying chief executive officer Emma-Jane Cross said: “Our research reveals the severity of modern-day bullying. We’re a long way from playground name-calling, with child- on-child violence and sexual violence frighteningly frequent for many young people. This is unacceptable.”