Mia Janin: Father of girl, 14, who took her own life says cyber bullying should be specific crime

Mariano Janin has spoken out after his daughter Mia died in March 2021 after being bullied by boys at school
William Mata2 March 2024

The father of a 14-year-old girl who took her own life after being subjected to online abuse has said cyber bullying should be a specific crime.

Mariano Janin has spoken out after his daughter Mia died in March 2021 aged 14 after being picked on by male peers at her school in Kenton, north west London.

He told BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg that new laws were needed to protect young people after the abuse Mia suffered while attending the Jewish Free School. 

Mr Janin’s address follows a coroner expressing fears earlier this week about a culture of bullying within the school. 

Mia Janin inquest
Mariano Janin spoke to Laura Kuenssberg on the BBC
PA

The Janin family previously released a voice note Mia sent to a friend, expressing her anxiety about going back in after lockdown. 

She said: “Tomorrow's going to be a rough day, I'm taking deep breaths in and out. I'm currently mentally preparing myself to get bullied tomorrow.” 

The Year 10 pupil was last seen alive around 10pm on March 11, 2021, when she said goodnight to her parents in their family home.

She was tragically found dead in her bedroom at 6.50am the following day by her mother, Marisa. Two undated letters were found on her bed addressed to “her loving family and friends”, which explained that she had decided to end her life.

Mia Janin inquest
Mia Janin died at the age of 14
PA

Neither Mia’s family or teachers were aware she was being bullied before her death. Marisa also died four months later, after suffering an aneurysm and contracting leukaemia.

The UK has no law around bullying or cyber bulling and Mr Janin has said something needs to be brought in addition to existing laws around harassment and malicious communication.

He told Kuenssberg: "I think we need to do something against bullying. We need to revise the existing legislation about bullying, try to understand and try to act, do something.

"We need to transmit to our kids values, normal values, kindness, acceptance, understanding - then we need of course some kind of legal boundaries for social media."

Mr Janin has also spoken of a need for parents to be allowed to access their childrens’ social media accounts.

A statement from the school read: “After Mia's tragic death, all information held by the school was handed to the Metropolitan Police to support their investigation.

“Throughout the investigation, the school has given open access to all of its systems. Our thoughts remain, as they have always been, with the family.”

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