Stalking and harassment – Find out how a sexual offence solicitor can help with your case ABV Solicitors If you’re looking to find out information about stalking and harassment charges, this handy guide features everything there is to know. Discover information about the legal definitions of each offense, info about how a sexual offence solicitor can assist you with your case and the role of the CPS. It’s been said that thanks to the role social media has played in society today, it has enabled people to become more easily accessible to communicate with and interact with. Now you can connect with people from all around the world with a simple text message and reach out to strangers who you have never met before in person and start a conversation. There are many positives to having this ease of communication, however the negative is that it has made it easier for people to stalk or harass both online and in person. If you find that you are a subject of a stalker, now is the time to consider a sexual offence solicitor. There are minor differences pertaining to each sexual offence when referring to stalking and harassment and this can best be explained by defining the two terms below. Stalking can most accurately be described as a pattern of behaviour that causes a person to experience a level of fear or distress as a direct result of that behaviour. This can be a result of following a person in real life, contacting them numerous times, or directing a threat at them. While harassment can best be described as being a type of behaviour that will cause a person to experience feelings of distress or alarm as a result. Both these offences however can be applicable to either physical contact with people in real life or online contact with people over a device or mobile phone etc. If you find yourself or a loved one being subject to a harassment or stalking circumstance, it is vital that you enlist the legal counsel of a sexual offence solicitor. Both harassment and stalking can apply to both physical and online contact with people. If you find that you are a victim of either of these scenarios it is recommend that you seek advice from a sexual offence solicitor. CPS is on hand to assess the situation as well and will determine whether or not prosecution will be needed, and charges can be filed. The Crown Prosecution Service (or CPS as they are commonly referred to) are the officials responsible for prosecuting cases when it comes to instances of stalking or harassment-based offences. If this is the case, a sexual offence solicitor may be able to offer legal advice regarding your rights and what steps will need to be taken following the involvement of CPS. If you or a family member or friend has become subject to a stalking offence or a harassment incident, it is advised that you contact the police as soon as possible to report the claim. The next step would be to inform a sexual offence solicitor of the circumstances so that they can instruct you on what to do next. https://www.abvsolicitors.co.uk/services/sexual-offence-solicitor/ https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/stalking-and-harassment https://www.suzylamplugh.org/pages/category/national-stalking-helpline