Summary
The Protection from Harassment Act 1997 creates criminal offences and civil remedies for harassment and stalking. It provides for restraining orders and injunctions to protect victims.
Key Points
- Criminal offence of harassment — a course of conduct amounting to harassment (s.2)
- Offence of putting people in fear of violence (s.4)
- Stalking offences added by Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (ss.2A, 4A)
- Civil remedy: injunction and damages for harassment (s.3)
- Restraining orders can be imposed on conviction or acquittal (ss.5, 5A)
- A 'course of conduct' requires conduct on at least two occasions
- Defences include prevention of crime and compliance with a legal requirement
Parts & Sections
Amendments History
2012 — Protection of Freedoms Act 2012
Inserted new stalking offences (ss.2A and 4A) and expanded the definition of harassment-related conduct.