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Harassment and stalking

Harassment is any form of unwanted and unwelcome behaviour that may range from mildly unpleasant remarks to physical violence.

Harassment or bullying at work, in society, at school and at home can be very stressful and can damage your health, both physical and mental. No one has to put up with harassment and there are laws available to help protect you from harassment.  

Harassment can take several forms, outlined below:

Sexual harassment

Harassment is termed sexual harassment if the unwanted behaviours are linked to your gender or sexual orientation. The EU definition of sexual harassment is "unwanted conduct of a sexual nature or other conduct based on sex affecting the dignity of men and women at work". If the harassment comprises regular following, watching, repeated unsolicited contact or gifts, etc, the term stalking may be appropriate.

Stalking

What is stalking?

It is hard to give an exact definition of stalking because stalkers will often use multiple and differing methods to harass their victims. Stalking can consist of any type of behaviour such as regularly sending flowers or gifts, making unwanted or malicious communication, damaging property and physical or sexual assault. If the behaviour is persistent and clearly unwanted causing you fear, harassment or anxiety then it is stalking and you should not have to live with it.

Can stalking only be done by a stranger?

When many people hear the word stalking they still think of a stranger lurking in the shadows or a delusional fan following a celebrity. Whilst these cover some stalking scenarios they are by no means the majority. About 40% of people who contact the Helpline are being stalked by ex-intimates (i.e. ex partners) and a further third have had some sort of prior acquaintance with their victim; you may have dated, married or been a friend with your stalker. Just because you know/knew the stalker does not mean that the situation is your fault - it is still stalking and it is wrong.

Am I overreacting?

No. If you feel scared, worried or angered by the behaviour then you should not have to put up with it. Some people may lack the knowledge or understanding of how stalking can negatively impact on every aspect of your life, however that does not mean that you are overreacting – only that we have a long way to go in raising awareness about the seriousness of stalking.

Who can be a victim of stalking?

Anyone can become a victim of stalking. A report produced by Dr. Lorraine Sheridan and Network for Surviving Stalking, in which 2,292 victims of stalking were surveyed, found that victims’ ages ranged from 10 to 73, they were male and female, were spread across the entire socio-economic spectrum and a large proportion (38%) were professionals. Dr. Sheridan concludes that virtually anyone can become a victim of stalking and the only way to avoid doing so would be to avoid the social world.

How long does stalking last?

There is no definite answer to this question. Dr. Lorraine Sheridan’s report (see above) found that stalking could last anywhere from 1 month to 43 years. The average length of time was found to be between 6 months and 2 years. Dr. Sheridan also found that the duration of stalking tends to increase as the stalker’s emotional investment in the relationship increases. This is one of the reasons ex-intimate stalking is often considered to be the most dangerous.

Can stalking without violence still be damaging?

Yes. The absence of violence in a stalking case doesn’t mean the victim is unaffected. Stalking can cause severe psychological distress to a victim. Depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance, paranoia, agoraphobia and post-traumatic stress disorder are all common side effects of stalking.

What key information would you give to stalking victims?

Trust your instincts, if someone is making you feel scared or intimidated do not ignore these feelings, research indicates early intervention in a stalking case can stop it. After you have told your stalker once clearly and firmly that you no longer wish to have any contact with them try not to engage with or meet them again, even if it is to tell them to leave you alone.

There is help from the national stalking helpline or you can call 0808 802 0300 , 09:30 – 16:00 Weekdays (except Wed 13:00 – 16:00

Racial harassment

Racial Harassment is any unwelcome or hostile behaviour that is linked to your colour, race, nationality or ethnic origin. Racist incidents, which can range from abuse or intimidation to actual physical violence, are criminal activities and should be reported to the police.

Harassment because of religious belief

The term sectarian harassment is often used if the behaviours are linked to your religious beliefs or perceived religious origin or inclination.

The distinction between bullying and harassment

Bullying is the common denominator of harassment, discrimination, abuse and violence etc. The source of most bullying and harassment can usually be traced to one individual.

The differences between harassment and bullying are, briefly; harassment tends to have a strong physical component and is usually linked to gender, race, disability or physical violence; bullying tends to be a large number of incidents (individually trivial) over a long period comprising constant unjustified and unsubstantiated criticism.

Bullying and harassment (at work, in society, at school and at home) is a major cause of injury to health, both physical and mental. Over time, bullying and harassment result in trauma, which is a psychiatric injury, the collective symptoms of which often constitute Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD.

Areas of UK law that apply to harassment

The principal areas of UK law relating to harassment comprise:

  • Sex Discrimination Act 1975: discrimination on the grounds of sex by dismissing an employee or submitting them to "any other detriment"
  • Race Relations Act 1976: ditto on racial grounds
  • Disability Discrimination Act 1995: ditto on grounds of disability
  • Protection from Harassment Act 1996: harassment and stalking
  • Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994: intentional harassment for causing another person harassment, alarm or distress by using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour
  • Criminal law of assault

Discrimination

Discrimination is when you are treated less favourably because of your gender or sexuality, your race or a disability. The Government has signed up to the European Commission Directive to end age discrimination in employment. However, there is no national legislation on the issue yet.

For information on your rights and actions you can take if you are being discriminated against, have a look at the websites given below.

See also

Related websites

This page was last updated on Friday 2 December 2011