Harassment claims

Harassment laws exist to prevent stalking and persistent, unwanted and unpleasant conduct towards individuals. This attention can be from a third party such as a landlord, media organisations, a workplace colleague or a stranger. Harassment might be face to face, online or through another mode of communication such as telephone calls.

Harassment in legal terms is defined as ‘unwanted behaviour which you find offensive, intimidating or humiliating.’ It can include sexual harassment.

Our experienced, specialist lawyers can advise you on your rights to take legal action to stop the harassment and other legal remedies such as claims for damages, may also include compensation for damage to your mental health such as anxiety and depression. We also obtain restraining order injunctions for clients where appropriate to ensure the harassment stops.

Not all civil harassment claims go to court. Often we secure out-of-court undertakings from the perpetrators to stop their unreasonable conduct towards our clients, backed up by a court order which can be swiftly actioned at court if the behaviour is repeated.

Harassment online

We advise clients who are being harassed online, often on social media. This is also often described as cyber bullying. In English law there is no separate definition for online harassment at present. Like other forms of harassment it will involve offensive, abusive, violent, threatening, racist or explicit behaviour which results in alarm or distress. To be actionable legally, there must be at least 2 instances of the behaviour. There can often be an overlap with internet libel.

If you are being harassed by a journalist or media organisation, we can make a complaint on your behalf to the Independent Press Standards Organisation. This organisation handles complaints against the media for breaches of the Editors' Code of Practice. We also conduct complaints cases for clients in relation to breaches of the Ofcom Broadcasting Code. This code has been implemented to protect people from persistent infringements of their privacy by broadcasters.

In many cases we seek the removal of harassing material by social media sites or internet service providers from the following platforms through Cease and Desist notices:

• social media websites

• forums

If you believe that you have been the victim of harassment, then please get in touch with our team. They will be able to relieve the worry and present to you the options available for your specific concerns.

Harassment at work

Claims of sexual or other harassment at work are common and are especially difficult because the victim faces risks when reporting the harassment, or raising a grievance. Our employment lawyers can advise and assist on all the options if you are being harassed at work in any way.

We obtain restraining order for clients where appropriate to ensure harassment is brought to an end.