NKW-booksStalking, harassment and intimidation are against the law but there appears to be a commonly held misconception regarding what those words actually mean.

The definition of stalking is: intentionally and repeatedly following, watching or contacting another person with the intention of causing that person to fear physical or mental harm.

The definition of harassment is: persistent conduct designed to torment, threaten, intimidate or cause fear of violence.

The definition of intimidation is: repeated threatening behaviour that causes reasonable apprehension of injury, violence or damage to property.

These three definitions encompass a wide range of actions and in turn impose a standard that defines criminality.

For example without the presence of one of more of the above elements, someone frequenting a public place for a legitimate purpose is not stalking; someone you dislike sporadically driving past your house on the way to their destination is not intimidation; and someone acting in a manner in which you find irritating or annoying is not harassment. However, if a person acts in a threatening manner intending to cause fear, or with the knowledge that their actions would cause a reasonable person in the same situation to fear for their safety, that person has committed an offence.

Stalking, intimidation and harassment are serious offences. If after considering the definitions of what constitutes stalking, harassment and intimidation you have any concerns that you are the victim of such conduct, or alternatively if you are being unjustly accused of such conduct, please do not hesitate to contact us at Everingham Solomons because Helping You is Our Business.

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