Stalking and harassment is when someone repeatedly behaves in a way that makes you feel scared, distressed or threatened.
If this unwanted behaviour happens two times or more, it may be a crime, and you can report it to the police.
Both stalking and harassment are offences under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997. They're crimes the police take very seriously.
Stalking and harassment are very similar offences. Don't worry if you're not sure whether you're being stalked or harassed. If you report it, the police will be able to explain if an offence has been committed and what that offence is.
Stalking
Stalking is a pattern of unwanted, repeated behaviour that can escalate quickly and leave you feeling scared or distressed. It’s stalking if the unwanted behaviour has happened more than once.
Stalking is a form of harassment, but the stalker will have an obsession with the person they're targeting, and their repeated, unwanted behaviour can make the victim feel distressed or scared.
Stalking may include:
- following someone
- going uninvited to their home
- hanging around somewhere they know the person often visits
- watching or spying on someone
- identity theft (signing-up to services, buying things in someone's name)
- writing or posting online about someone if it's unwanted or the person doesn't know
Sometimes the stalker is not known to the victim, but in the vast majority of cases there will be some association. In some cases, the victim and their stalker will previously have been in an intimate relationship.
It is important to remember that stalking isn’t a ‘one off’ crime. It is a series of incidents which in isolation may appear trivial but put together they become far more sinister.
It's stalking if the unwanted behaviour has happened two times or more and made you feel scared, distressed or threatened.
Online stalking or harassment
Online stalking or harassment is when someone monitors, stalks, harasses, threatens, controls or impersonates another person using the internet or other technology.
Online stalking or harassment may include:
- monitoring someone’s internet use, email or other electronic communication
- someone sending you photos of genitals without your permission
- getting access to someone's email and social media accounts
- spamming and sending viruses
- stealing someone's identity
- threatening to share private information, photographs, copies of messages
- adding tracking software to someone's devices
It's online stalking or harassment if the unwanted behaviour has happened two times or more and made you feel scared, distressed or threatened.
Harassment
Harassment may include:
- sending abusive text messages or images
- posting abusive messages on social media
- neighbour disputes that involve abusive behaviour or damage to property
- repeated antisocial behaviour
- making unwanted or offensive phone calls
It's harassment if the unwanted behaviour has happened two times or more and made you feel distressed or threatened.
How can I protect myself?
Trust your instincts. If you or someone you know has been a victim of stalking or harassment, there is help and support available.
- Tell someone, friend, family member, GP, school, colleague
- Save evidence including emails, texts, photos, diary logs safely
- Contact support services
- Do not respond or engage with the person/s stalking you
- Ask the Police about a Stalking Protection Order (SPO)
It is helpful to keep a record of any incidents which you think may be relevant, including a note of what takes place with the location, time and date. You should also save evidence of any text messages, emails and screenshots which you receive.
National charities the National Stalking Helpline and the Suzy Lamplugh Trust both offer detailed advice on how to protect yourself. This includes protecting yourself at home, at work, out and about and online.
Where can I get help or further information?
You should report stalking and harassment to the police or to a support service.
For the police
- Report online by using Merseyside Police’s online crime reporting service which is secure and confidential. All reports made using this service are reviewed by the 24/7 contact centre within a few hours and an officer will get back to you in a maximum of two days (although usually quicker).
- Call the police’s non-emergency number 101 and report what happened or just get some advice. This number is staffed 24/7.
- If it’s an emergency, always call 999 and ask for the police.
The Merseyside Domestic Violence and Stalking Service (MDVS) has been commissioned by the Police and Crime Commissioner to provide specialist support to victims of stalking and harassment.
MDVS can be reached directly by calling 07802 722703 or by emailing [email protected]
You can also get support by calling the Victim Care Merseyside team Freephone on 0808 175 3080.
For information and advice, you can also contact the National Stalking Helpline on 0808 802 0300 or by email at [email protected]
Stalking protection order (SPO)
A stalking protection order can be used to protect anyone who's been a victim of stalking.
The order can prohibit the stalker from doing certain things, including:
- going to locations where you live or visit often
- contacting you in any way, including by phone, post, email, text message or social media
- recording images of you
- referring to you on social media either directly or indirectly
The order lasts for a minimum of two years. Breaching (or breaking) a protection order, without a good reason, is a criminal offence.