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A independent school in Britain is under police investigation over alleged cyber-bullying that reportedly involved online images of torture and child abuse.

The cyber-bullying, which is said to have occurred in students' common rooms, involved students being restrained in a chair and forced to watch Web sites that featured graphic material including  sexual abuse of children, sexual torture of adults, graphic pornography and scenes of bestiality. The cyber bullies would log on using aliases. Bullies are also said to have been responsible for offensive text messaging and harassment through social networking sites as well.

A police spokeswoman said that “inquiries are ongoing, there have been no arrests” at the school. She added: “Computer equipment has been removed from the school for analysis.”

The allegations come amid growing public concern about online abuse. New measures being introduced by the government include a statutory power for teachers to confiscate mobile phones if they suspect that they are being used for bullying

Parents are concerned over what they report is the schools failure to respond adequately. Parents had complained to local authorities earlier -- the incidents are said to have been occurring for approximately a year.

Authorities at the school said they are taking the allegations seriously.

The school in southeast England, has not been named.