Harassment Definition Law Uk
The protection from harassment act 1997 pha outlines harassment offences as causing alarm or distress section 2 and putting people in fear of violence section 4.
Harassment definition law uk. Purpose or effect of violating dignity or creating proscribed environment. And a course of conduct must involve conduct on at least two occasions. The purposes may vary including racial prejudice personal malice an attempt to force someone to quit a job or grant sexual favors apply illegal pressure to. General definition of harassment.
The definition of harassment was considered in plavelil v director of public prosecutions 2014 ewhc 736 admin in which it was held that the repeated making of false and malicious assertions against a doctor in connection with an investigation by the gmc could amount to a course of harassment. It also means you can take action against the person in the civil courts. Protection from harassment act 1997 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 19 october 2020. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date.
Harassment is both a criminal offence and a civil action under the protection from harassment act 1997. Harassment and stalking law. 4 it shall be a defence to any action of harassment to show that the course of conduct complained of a was authorised by under or by virtue of any enactment or rule of law. If you experience harassment because you re pregnant breastfeeding or you ve recently given birth this could be harassment related to sex.
Harassment warnings are also known as harassment warning notices and police information notices pins. Harassment of a person includes causing the person alarm or distress. Harassment practical law uk practice note w 010 6845 approx. Harassment because of one of these characteristics is called harassment related to a protected characteristic.
Related to a protected characteristic. Harassment because you re pregnant or you ve recently given birth. This means that someone can be prosecuted in the criminal courts if they harass you. This is a warning which tells your abuser about the law in relation to harassment and that if there are similar reports in the future the police might take action against him.