BULLYING is inexcusable anywhere, but in the workplace it's a form of harassment that demands the toughest possible line. Bolton Council's moves, therefore, to protect staff from such behaviour is very welcome.

It comes after a tribunal backed a decision to sack a woman supervisor following after serious allegations were made by other staff. She constantly shouted at them and abused them, reducing some to frequent tears, in what sounds like a nasty atmosphere of intimidation.

Personnel sub-committee chairman Cllr Peter Johnston has rightly said that the decision sends "a message throughout the organisation that if people are being harassed by their superiors, or anybody else, and are willing to testify they will receive backing from this authority".

Here, the Council can lead the way in fighting this particularly nasty form of bullying, and we hope that workers elsewhere throughout the area will take heart from this decision and report such intimidation wherever it occurs.

People who misuse the power conferred in them by their job are no more impressive than playground bullies, and should be treated in the same dismissive fashion, both by their peers and their bosses.

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