Harassment help
The Council works with other agencies and organisations to providing advice and support to those who feel that they are being harassed at home, in the workplace, in public, at school.
Depending on the nature of the harassment and the age of the victim this may involve other authorities such as the police, legal services, education services, child protection agencies etc. The Council’s usual practice is to work with other agencies to tackle the source of the harassment and to protect the victim whilst this action is taken, rather than relocate the victim, and thus risk the harassment being inflicted on someone else.
Also see school bullying at hertdirect.org
Types of harassment
Harassment is termed sexual harassment if the unwanted behaviours are linked to your gender or sexual orientation. The EU definition of sexual harassment is "unwanted conduct of a sexual nature or other conduct based on sex affecting the dignity of men and women at work".
Racial harassment is when the behaviours are linked to your skin colour, race, cultural background, etc. In countries with sectarian tradition (eg as in Ireland) the term sectarian harassment is often used if the behaviours are linked to your religious beliefs, perceived religious origin or inclination.
If the harassment is physical, the criminal law of assault may be applicable. If the harassment comprises regular following, watching, repeated unsolicited contact or gifts, etc, the term stalking may be appropriate.
Discrimination is when you are treated differently (eg less favourably) because of your gender, race or disability.
Bullying is the common denominator of harassment, discrimination, abuse and violence etc. The source of most bullying and harassment can usually be traced to one individual.
The differences between harassment and bullying are, briefly; harassment tends to have a strong physical component and is usually linked to gender, race, disability or physical violence; bullying tends to be a large number of incidents (individually trivial) over a long period comprising constant unjustified and unsubstantiated criticism.
Bullying and harassment at work, in society, at school and at home is a major cause of injury to health, both physical and mental. Over time, bullying and harassment result in trauma, which is a psychiatric injury, the collective symptoms of which often constitute Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Bully Online is the world's largest resource on bullying and related issues.
Harrassment in council housing
If you experience or witness any incident of harassment and are a tenant of Stevenage Homes see the link below for information on what you should do.
If the harassment is so severe as to require temporary emergency re-housing, The Council’s Homelessness Section may be able to assist with advice and/or with hostel accommodation.
Areas of UK Law relating to harassment
The principal areas of UK law relating to harassment are:
- Sex Discrimination Act 1975 - discrimination on the grounds of sex by dismissing an employee or submitting them to "any other detriment"
- Race Relations Act 1976 - discrimination on racial grounds
- Disability Discrimination Act 1995 - discrimination on grounds of disability
- Protection from Harassment Act 1996 - harassment and stalking
- Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 - intentional harassment for causing another person harassment, alarm or distress by using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour
- criminal law of assault