Harassment
Harassment is both a criminal offence and a civil cause of action under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, therefore should the Police be unable to assist you with your harassment allegation, you always have the option to pursue a claim via the civil courts.
Harassment is when someone behaves in a way that makes you feel distressed, humiliated, fearful, or threatened.
It could be someone you know, for example, a neighbour or people from your local area or it could even be a stranger.
Some examples of harassment include:
It is up to the Court to decide if a course of conduct amounts to harassment under the Act. In doing so the Court will look at whether most people or a reasonable person would think the behaviour amounts to harassment.
It is important to be aware that there is a time limit for bringing a claim for harassment. You need to commence your claim within six years of when the harassment occurred.
If you have experienced harassment at work and also believe that the harassment was discriminatory (on the grounds of your gender, race, age etc.) then it is also possible to bring a claim in the Employment Tribunal under the Equality Act 2010, where you can be compensated for the injury to your feelings. It is important to remember that the deadline for bringing a claim to the Employment Tribunal is three months.
The Court can make an order or injunction that the person harassing you must stop their behaviour. If they do not stop harassing you, after the Court has made an injunction against them, they can be prosecuted for a criminal offence and possibly be sentenced to a term of imprisonment.
You can also ask the court for compensation if you’ve suffered financial or emotional loss - for example, if the harassment has made you feel anxious or distressed. You may also be able to claim for any financial losses suffered as a result of the harassment (e.g. if the harassment prevented you from attending work). You can also apply to the court for a Restraining Order against the perpetrator if they are prosecuted via the criminal courts.
It is important to remember that if you are being harassed and you feel that you are in danger, you should contact the police. However, should they not be able to deal with your matter, other options are available to you.
Please note, if you feel you are being harassed because of your disability, race, religion, transgender identity or sexual orientation, you can report the harassment to the police as a hate incident or crime.
