Evidence Checklist for an Online Harassment Case
How to document and preserve evidence of online harassment, stalking, or abuse for police reports, civil injunctions, or platform complaints.
Overview
Digital evidence can disappear quickly — accounts are deleted, messages are erased, and platforms may only retain data for limited periods. Acting quickly to preserve evidence is essential. Online harassment may constitute criminal offences under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, the Malicious Communications Act 1988, the Communications Act 2003, or the Online Safety Act 2023. Civil injunctions are also available.
Screenshots and Digital Evidence
Screenshots of every harassing message, post, or comment(Essential)
Include the full URL, username, date, and timestamp in every screenshot — zoom out to show context
Full URL of each harassing post or profile (copy from the browser address bar)(Essential)
Video recordings of live harassment or stories that may disappear
Use your device's screen recorder — third-party recording apps may be needed for live video
Download or export of message threads (WhatsApp, iMessage, DMs) with timestamps(Essential)
Platform and Police Records
Reference number from reports made to the platform (Twitter/X, Facebook, Instagram, etc.)(Essential)
Report to the platform first — this creates a record and may result in swift action
Screenshots of the platform's response (or evidence of no response)
Police crime reference number (if you have reported to the police)
Any response from Action Fraud (for financially motivated harassment)
Impact and Context
Impact statement describing how the harassment has affected you (mental health, work, daily life)
Useful for injunction applications and sentencing if criminal charges follow
Medical records or GP evidence of psychiatric harm if relevant
Evidence of the identity of the harasser (profile info, mutual contacts, IP data if available)