Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Related legal acts

Key definition

Harassment definition

What does Harassment mean? Harassment describes unwanted behaviour that violates a worker’s dignity or creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment, including sexual harassment, by an employer, colleague or others encountered at work. In England & Wales and Scotland, the Equality Act 2010 defines harassment as unwanted conduct related to a protected characteristic, or of a sexual nature, and includes less favourable treatment because a person rejected or submitted to such conduct. Employers are vicariously liable for acts of employees unless they took reasonable steps to prevent them, and must take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment. Remedies in the employment...

Harassment and Stalking under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997: Criminal Offences, Restraining Orders, Civil Remedies, Injunctions and CPR Procedure (England and Wales)

Published by a LexisNexis Family expert

Practice notes

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This Practice Note outlines the six criminal offences under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 (PHA 1997), such as harassment, causing fear of violence and stalking. It highlights the criminal remedies open to those targeted, including restraining orders made under PHA 1997. It also reviews civil avenues, for example damages for distress, injunctions and exclusion zones. The Note explains the process under the Civil Procedure Rules 1998 (CPR), covering who may apply and the appropriate court. It includes guidance on breach of injunction, undertakings, warrants of arrest and the assessment of damages. Where clients cannot rely on the Family Law Act 1996 (FLA 1996) because they fail to meet the criteria or eligibility, or where compensation is pursued, relief may instead be available under PHA 1997. See Practice Note: Domestic violence non-molestation orders. However, if the victim and the harasser or molester are ‘associated persons’ within FLA 1996, s 62(3), the remedies in the 1996 Act are broader and potentially preferable. Any concurrent claims brought under PHA 1997 and FLA 1996 should be consolidated and heard together.

Prohibition of harassment

PHA 1997 imposes a general ban on conduct that amounts to harassment. It outlaws harassment in general...

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Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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