Police Launch "Teachers' and Parents' Guide" Again; Breaking Down the Deep-Rooted Causes of Youth Violence Traps

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15-year-old Kayla arranged to hang out with friends, during which she was unhappy that a woman asked her boyfriend for his phone number. Kayla flew into a rage and, together with several friends, forcibly took the victim to a back alley, where they verbally abused and collectively attacked her. They slapped her in a group, kicked her in the face, and even filmed the process on a mobile phone. The attack footage spread widely online, causing grave public concern. In the end, three people were arrested. Kayla was convicted of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and sentenced to 24 months' probation, while the other two girls, aged 13 and 16, were sentenced to 15 months' probation and a rehabilitation centre respectively. This real case precisely highlights the heavy price of "lashing out, or landing in trouble?" Adolescents often rationalise violence due to momentary impulse or peer pressure. The Police Force has launched "Teachers' and Parents' Guide: Decoding Youth Traps," calling on teachers, parents and all sectors of society to work together to guide young people away from violence traps.

🧠 Breaking Down Myths: Loyalty and Legal Boundaries
The "Teachers' and Parents' Guide" mentions that many adolescents mistakenly believe that "when friends call, it's only right to help out for loyalty," and even think that being a minor means they do not need to bear legal responsibility. However, true friends will not use "loyalty" to coerce you into doing illegal things; true loyalty is stepping forward to stop a friend from doing wrong. When facing relationship or money disputes, no matter what fault the other party has, violence cannot solve the problem, and matters should be handled through rational and lawful means. In addition, many adolescents think that "as long as I don't lay a hand, just watching and filming from the side means I'm fine." In fact, watching, cheering on, filming or spreading bullying videos at the scene of violence is tantamount to encouraging violence and may even constitute a criminal offence. If you blindly follow because you fear being ostracised, or think that reporting will make you the next target, please remember that protecting yourself does not mean condoning violence. You should, while ensuring your own safety, seek help from teachers, parents, social workers or the police as soon as possible, so as to stop bullying behaviour early.

⚖️ Real Cases and Painful Costs
The "Teachers' and Parents' Guide" mentions another case in which a 13-year-old girl suspected her boyfriend was still in contact with his ex-girlfriend. After the two confronted each other on social media, the girl ran into the victim on the street and publicly slapped, pulled the hair of, and kicked the victim. The process was filmed by onlookers and uploaded to social media. The victim suffered multiple injuries and reported the matter to police after being sent to hospital for treatment. Police arrested the girl who attacked her the same day. This shows that regardless of age, anyone involved in violence must bear legal responsibility. The experience of a former offender, Ah Hei (pseudonym), is even more of a wake-up call. In secondary school, he was originally just an ordinary student, but gradually came under influence after making friends outside school and began to accept the violent culture of "when a friend has a problem, you should step in and help." Later, he became involved in a fight triggered by relationship and money disputes. At first he felt he had done nothing wrong, until he saw his mother cry with worry for him, and only then did he realise that impulse not only affects oneself but also deeply hurts family. In the end, he was sentenced to a community service order and even lost a coveted internship opportunity. The cost of a momentary impulse is far greater than imagined.

💬 Social Worker Advice: Establish Boundaries and Seek Help Early
Social workers from the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups' Youth Crime Prevention Centre point out that adolescents' involvement in gang bullying and physical violence often stems from the pursuit of belonging and peer recognition, blurred boundaries between friendship and illegality, and a lack of ability to handle conflict and emotions. Many young people overlook the severe physical and mental trauma that violence causes to victims. In the face of peer pressure and the temptation to bully, adolescents should establish clear interpersonal boundaries and understand that true friends will not ask you to prove friendship through illegal acts. For any dispute, they should insist on rational and non-violent communication. If you unfortunately become a target, the situation gets out of control, or you are coerced, do not bear it alone. While ensuring your own safety, immediately seek help from family, teachers, social workers or the police.