In England and Wales, harassment is a crime under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 when someone’s conduct on at least two occasions alarms or distresses you and they know, or ought to know, that it amounts to harassment. You can report it to the police on 101 or online, and you can also ask a civil court for an injunction and damages. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own, similar laws.
Updated 12 October 2026 · Sources: legislation.gov.uk, CPS, police.uk, Victim Support, Suzy Lamplugh Trust · Next review: January 2027
If someone is threatening you, following you or outside your home right now, call 999. If you can’t speak, see how to make a silent 999 call.
What counts as harassment under UK law?
Harassment is a “course of conduct” that alarms you or causes you distress. In England and Wales that means conduct on at least two occasions, and it can include speech, messages and posts. The test is whether a reasonable person with the same information would see it as harassment, not only what the other person intended.
Figures from the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 on legislation.gov.uk, England and Wales, checked 12 October 2026.
Is harassment a criminal offence in the UK?
Yes. In England and Wales, harassment is an offence under section 2 of the 1997 Act, with up to six months in prison, a fine or both. If the harassment makes you fear violence on at least two occasions, section 4 applies, with up to ten years. Scotland and Northern Ireland use their own offences, shown further down.
Could this count as harassment?
Police and courts look at the whole pattern, so this table is a guide, not a ruling. Examples are based on police.uk and CPS guidance.
Key: ▲ likely to count · ▬ depends on the facts · ▼ the law treats it as not harassment. Comments in the street are covered in is catcalling illegal in the UK?
How do I make harassment stop?
Start a record now, stop replying where you can, and report it. The police can investigate and charge, and a court can add a restraining order. You can also apply to a civil court yourself for an injunction. These five steps work in that order, and you can start the police and court routes at the same time.
1. Keep a log
2. Keep your evidence, limit contact
3. Report it to the police
4. Ask about a restraining order
5. Consider a civil injunction
Where to report: every official reporting route by type of crime · not sure if it’s 999 or 101? 999 or 101: how to report a crime.
How do I report harassment to the police?
Call 999 if you are in danger. If not, call 101 or report online, and give dates, times and copies of messages from your log. Police.uk says harassment that happened two or more times may be a crime and asks people to report unwanted behaviour early. Start here: police.uk: contact the police (Scotland: Police Scotland).
Can I take someone to court for harassment myself?
Yes. Section 3 of the 1997 Act lets the person being harassed bring a civil claim for an injunction and for damages, including for anxiety and financial loss. Breaking the injunction without a reasonable excuse is a crime with up to five years in prison. If the harasser is an ex-partner or family member, a non-molestation order may be quicker.
Which route gives you protection? (England and Wales)
More on each order: restraining orders, DAPOs and stalking protection orders.
What is the difference between harassment and stalking?
Both are repeated, unwanted behaviour. Stalking is harassment that is fixated or obsessive, such as following you, turning up uninvited at your home or work, or watching and monitoring you, and it may force you to change your daily life. It has its own offences (sections 2A and 4A). See what to do if someone is stalking you.
Is harassment law the same in Scotland and Northern Ireland?
No. In Scotland, section 8 of the 1997 Act gives a civil right to be free from harassment, with interdicts and non-harassment orders, and the police can charge offences such as threatening or abusive behaviour under the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010. Northern Ireland has its own Protection from Harassment (Northern Ireland) Order 1997, with a criminal offence and a civil claim.
Key: ▲ same as or close to England and Wales · ▬ similar, but a different law or route · ▼ a different approach. Maximum terms are on indictment, checked on legislation.gov.uk on 12 October 2026.
Who can help if I am being harassed?
These services can listen and help you plan, whether or not you report. Numbers checked on the official sites on 12 October 2026.
If the person harassing you is a partner or ex-partner, read what is coercive control? for domestic abuse helplines in each nation.
Frequently asked questions
Not under the 1997 Act, which needs conduct on at least two occasions towards one person. A single threatening or abusive message can still be a different offence, and police.uk asks people to report unwanted behaviour early, so it is worth reporting and keeping a copy.
Yes, it can be. The Act says conduct includes speech, and police.uk lists abusive or unwanted messages, images, emails and social media posts as examples. Save screenshots with dates and links before you block or report the account.
For the basic offence in England and Wales (section 2), the CPS says proceedings must start within six months of the last incident, so report as soon as you can. The more serious offence in section 4 has no such limit. Report anyway and let the police decide.
Not to report to the police, which is free. For a civil injunction under section 3 a solicitor is usually helpful. You can check whether you qualify for legal aid on GOV.UK.
Sources
- Protection from Harassment Act 1997, s1 (prohibition and defences)
- s2 (offence of harassment)
- s3 (civil remedy)
- s4 (putting people in fear of violence)
- s7 (course of conduct)
- s8 (Scotland) and s9 (breach of non-harassment order)
- Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010, s38
- Protection from Harassment (NI) Order 1997, Art 4 and Art 5
- CPS: stalking and harassment
- police.uk: what is stalking and harassment
- Suzy Lamplugh Trust: National Stalking Helpline
- Victim Support · Victim Support Scotland
General information for the UK, not legal advice. Laws change: check GOV.UK or a solicitor for your situation. In an emergency, always call 999.
Keep reading
Let someone you trust know you got home
While you deal with harassment, small things help you feel less alone. Safety App UK lets you share your live location with a trusted circle, get Safe Zone alerts when you arrive or leave, and send an SOS by button or shake (or automatically in higher-crime zones) with live location and live video. It also shows a live safety map from police data and community reports, police stations and Ask for Angela venues, and safer routes. It does not call the emergency services. Free for 7 days, then £2.99 a month. For ages 16+.