Harrassment allegations

Does anyone know how seriously police take claims of harrassment by text messaging? I'm not directly involved in either side of the claim, but a lot of people close to me are and I am SO worried.

The text messages have all been kept as evidence, but the text messages don't stretch as far death threats.

Basically, it's a whole little situation between 18 yr olds, blown majorly out of proportion, landing up with the police.

Reply 1

Dragon24

17

I have heard the police have better things to do than investigate these message from friend's experiences. Not too sure what other police forces in other areas are like on this. Best thing to do is not get involved in sending messages, its childish and immature. Wouldn't be nice to have something so silly on your file.

Reply 2

Anonymous #1

OP

I've been told that it could lead to a cautioning. Is this the same as a criminal record?

Reply 3

hixey101

no but a second offence would be on a record. although i doubt anything would be done about it to be honest.

Reply 4

Princess_Charley

4

If people are nasty enough to send harrasing messages to other people then they deserve more than a caution. The poilice are taking these issues more seriously in some areas as they are finally getting the point that these messages can just be upsetting as harrasing phone calls.

I hate bullies. Not saying you are but to be honest you should remove yourself entirely out of the situation.

Reply 5

Anonymous #2

The Protection from Harassment Act 1997 is probably the most relevant piece of legistaion for this post.

The act states (section 1) that a person must not pursue a course of conduct - (a) Which amounts to harassment of another, and (b) Which he knows or ought to know amounts to harassment of another It is a defence that the course of conduct was pursued for the purpose of preventing or detecting crime or that in the particular circumstances it was reasonable.

The offence can only be tried in a magistrates court and carries a maximum sentence of 6 months imprisonment or a fine up to £5000. A more serious offence is set out in section 4 which states that a person whose course of conduct causes another to fear, on at least two occasions, that violence will be used against him is guilty of an offence if he knows or ought to know that his course of conduct will cause the other so to fear on each of those occasions.

This offence can be tried either in a magistrates court or the Crown Court and carries a maximum sentence of 5 years.

It is clear that provisions are in place for harrasment, but at the end of the day it will be down to the Police (and if it gets that far the CPS)

Reply 6

Anonymous #1

OP

Princess_Charley

I hate bullies. Not saying you are but to be honest you should remove yourself entirely out of the situation.

If only life was that easy. As I said before, I've neither been accussed of this, nor am I the victim, but people close to me are involved in either side of it. Therefore, there's absolutely no chance of being able to remove myself from the situation.

Anon #2, that theory was very helpful, thank you :smile: