Harrasment

Harassment

Harassment describes a situation where someone behaves deliberately to cause another person, or a group of people, like a family or a minority group, to suffer distress.

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The Harassment Act 1997

Harassment is a criminal offence. More serious harassment cases usually involve some form of criminal behaviour such as threatening a person or causing damage.

Under section 1 of the Act, the term "harassment" applies to a course of conduct which harasses or alarms another or which causes that person distress.

The following sort of behaviour is recognised as harassment:

  • threats (either by face or by telephone)

  • a range of distressing behaviour, such as following the victim, waiting outside the house/ place of work

  • making silent phone calls

  • verbal abuse/name calling

  • use of violence

  • miscellaneous actions such as sending unwanted gifts, ordering taxis/pizza deliveries etc

  • damaging property and

  • carrying out any course of conduct that the perpetrator knows causes distress to another party.

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What can I do about harassment?

To complain about harassment you should contact the local police who have powers under the Harassment Act to deal with the person causing the problem. You should phone 0845 125 2222 to report such incidents or behaviour.

Woking Borough Council takes allegations of harassment seriously and it will do all it can to halt the harassment. To report harassment please fill in our online form.

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Harassment by council tenants

The Council can take action to enforce tenancy conditions by way of an injunction, or, where deemed more appropriate, seeking to take possession of a tenant's home.

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What are the different types of harassment?

People can be harassed for many reasons, for example, because of their age, religious beliefs, disability, sexual orientation, race. Woking Borough Council takes harassment very seriously regardless of what form it takes. We will offer advice and support to any Woking resident who is being harassed.

People can also be affected by domestic abuse or verbal abuse.