Harassment / Stalking

When you report to Ugly Mugs you can choose "Harassment / Stalking" as one of the incident types.

What is Harassment / Stalking?

Harassment and stalking are when someone repeatedly does things that make you feel scared, upset or threatened. At Ugly Mugs we define it this way. Many actions that are harassment or stalking are also criminal offences.

You can be harassed or stalked by people you know or don't know. It could be a neighbour, a past client, an ex-partner or a stranger. Sometimes, with online harassment, you may not know who is doing it.

People who harass or stalk often become obsessed with their victims. They are frequently repeat offenders. It can sometimes be the precursor to more violent crimes. We know it can seriously harm victims.

When to Use the Harassment / Stalking Category:

• Repeated unwanted communications: If someone keeps contacting you and it is unwanted, abusive or threatening.
• Cyber stalking: If someone keeps harassing you online, like posting about you on social media or sharing your private info without permission.
• Unwanted visits, following or spying: If someone keeps visiting your home or work, follows you, or spies on you.
• Third party harassment: If someone harasses your friends, family or colleagues to bother you, or uses your identity to sign up for things.
• Image Based Sexual Abuse: If someone shares or threatens to share sexually explicit images or videos of you without permission, report it as harassment / stalking for now.

When Not to Use the Harassment / Stalking Category:

• Timewasters. If someone is just wasting your time use the Suspicious Behaviour / Timewasters category. Even if they do it repeatedly, it only counts as harassment if it causes fear.
• Single incidents of abuse. If it happens only once report it under Abuse / Threats by Phone / Message / Online or Abuse / Threats In-Person. We only consider it harassment or stalking if it happens more than once.

Harassment and stalking are considered medium level incidents on Ugly Mugs.

Harassment and stalking can come with other behaviours. In that case select multiple incident types when reporting to Ugly Mugs.