Stalking, harassment, and hate crime

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Stalking

Stalking is when someone consistently and repeatedly acts in a way that is unwanted towards another person. Stalkers can be anyone, and anyone can be a victim of stalking.

There are 4 warning signs that someone may be stalking you:

• Fixated – the person is not able to stop the unwanted behaviour, even though they’ve been asked to.
• Obsessive – the person keeps finding new ways to contact, track or interfere with the person they are stalking.
• Unwanted – the behaviour, whatever form it takes, is not wanted or appreciated by the person experiencing it.
• Repeated – the unwanted behaviour has happened more than once.

Stalking behaviour can also take place online. In this instance, it’s called “cyber-stalking” and it is still a serious offence. For more information on both stalking and cyber-stalking, and who you can contact for help, see the resources linked below.

Thinkuknow - stalking explained

Paladin Young People Services

Report a stalker to the police

Harassment

The Protection from Harassment Act 1997 states that someone's behaviour counts as harassment when they make a person feel distressed, humiliated, threatened, or afraid of violence. The main goal of harassment is to persuade someone not to do something that they are allowed to do, or to force someone to do something that they don't have to do. 

Harassment can include:

• Bullying at school or in the workplace
• Sending abusive texts
• Unwanted phone calls, letters, emails, or visits
• Sending unwanted gifts 
• Antisocial behaviour
• Verbal abuse
• Damage to property
• Bodily harm

For more information on spotting the signs of harassment and how to deal with it, see the resources below:

• YoungMinds
• PoliceUK
• NSPCC

See our directory for anti-bullying resources

Remember, if you need help you can always talk to a trusted adult such as a parent or teacher.

You can report serious harassment using the button below:

Report harassment to the police

Both of these behaviours are illegal under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997. 

Hate crime

When a person has a crime committed against them because of their:

• race
• religion or faith
• disability
• gender identity
• sexual orientation

This is called a "hate crime". Anyone can be a victim of hate crime, people may target you because they think you're a member of a certain group even if you're not. If you or another young person has been affected by hate crime, the Stop Hate UK website has an information hub that aims to help you identify, challenge, and report hate.