What is Harassment?
Harassment is when someone behaves in a way which makes you feel distressed, humiliated or threatened. It could be someone you know, like a neighbour or people from your local area or it could be a stranger.
Harassment can also occur from your partner or ex-partner. Our section on Domestic Abuse provides more information and advice if you are experiencing harassment from a partner or ex-partner.
Examples of harassment include:
- unwanted phone calls, letters, emails or visits
- sexual harassment, including verbal remarks or unwanted physical contact
- abuse and bullying online
- verbal abuse and threats
- damage to your property or possessions
- information spread maliciously in a way that is calculated to cause distress or telling lies about you.
What is Stalking?
Stalking is unwanted, repeated, obsessive and controlling behaviours that make you feel distressed or scared. Stalking can seem trivial at first but if someone’s behaviour patterns are upsetting or frightening you, take it seriously. A stalker can be someone you know, or someone that you do not know.
Stalking is often considered as someone watching, following or waiting for you. These can take many different forms.
Examples could be:
- Repeatedly using the internet to publish information about you
- Repeatedly pretending to be you on the Internet and posting information
- Repeatedly monitoring you online
- Repeatedly watching or spying on you
- Repeatedly following or waiting for you
- Repeatedly going to your home or place of work
- Repeatedly sending unwanted letters or gifts
- Repeatedly ordering or cancelling goods in your name
- Repeatedly stealing and/or damaging your possessions
- Persistently trying to find out personal information about you
- Making threats to hurt you, your children or those close to you
- Contacting your friends, family and colleagues
- Sending obscene or sexually explicit messages
This website can help you understand more about stalking and how to stay safe.
How to get help
If you are in immediate danger call the police by dialling 999. If you would like to speak to a police officer but it isn’t urgent then you can call 101.
Your Victim Focus Officer can support you and help you access specialist help. Click here to find out about your local Victim Focus Team and how to contact them.
- National Stalking Helpline – www.stalkinghelpline.org
To get more advice, help and support about stalking and harassment you can contact the National Stalking Helpline
Tel: 0808 802 0300
- 24 Hour Live Fear Free Helpline – http://livefearfree.gov.wales
If you are being harassed or stalked by your partner, ex-partner or family member and need advice you can contact the 24 Hour Live Fear Free Helpline 0808 8010 800 Email: info@livefearfreehelpline.wales