Protection from Harassment Act 1997
1997 c. 40An Act to make provision for protecting persons from harassment and similar conduct.
Enacted[21st March 1997]
Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—
England and Wales¶
1 Prohibition of harassment.¶
2 Offence of harassment.¶
2A Offence of stalking¶
2B Power of entry in relation to offence of stalking¶
I13 Civil remedy.¶
3A Injunctions to protect persons from harassment within section 1(1A)¶
4 Putting people in fear of violence.¶
4A Stalking involving fear of violence or serious alarm or distress¶
4B Offences under sections 4 and 4A committed outside the United Kingdom¶
- “country” includes territory;
- “United Kingdom national” means an individual who is—
- a British citizen, a British overseas territories citizen, a British National (Overseas) or a British Overseas citizen,
- a person who under the British Nationality Act 1981 is a British subject, or
- a British protected person within the meaning of that Act.
F32C1C4C55 Restraining orders on conviction.¶
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5A Restraining orders on acquittal¶
6 Limitation.¶
In section 11 of the M1Limitation Act 1980 (special time limit for actions in respect of personal injuries), after subsection (1) there is inserted—C27 Interpretation of this group of sections.¶
Scotland¶
8 Harassment.¶
- “conduct” includes speech;
- “harassment” of a person includes causing the person alarm or distress; and
8A Harassment amounting to domestic abuse¶
; and
9 Breach of non-harassment order.¶
10 Limitation.¶
.
11 Non-harassment order following criminal offence.¶
After section 234 of the M3Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 there is inserted the following section—.
General¶
C312 National security, etc.¶
13 Corresponding provision for Northern Ireland.¶
An Order in Council made under paragraph 1(1)(b) of Schedule 1 to the M4Northern Ireland Act 1974 which contains a statement that it is made only for purposes corresponding to those of sections 1 to 7 and 12 of this Act—14 Extent.¶
15 Commencement.¶
16 Short title.¶
This Act may be cited as the Protection from Harassment Act 1997.Footnotes
- F1S. 2(3) repealed (1.10.2002) by 2002 c. 30, s. 107, Sch. 8; S.I. 2002/2306, art. 2(g)(iii)(e)
- I1S. 3 wholly in force at 1.9.1998; S. 3 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 15; s. 3(1)(2) in force at 16.6.1997 by S.I. 1997/1498, art. 2; s. 3(3)-(9) in force at 1.9.1998 by S.I. 1998/1902, art. 2
- C1S. 5 modified (30.9.1998) by 1998 c. 37, s. 32(7); S.I. 1998/2327, art. 2(1)(g)
- M11980 c. 58.
- F2S. 7(3A) inserted (1.8.2001) by 2001 c. 16, s. 44(1)(2); S.I. 2001/2223, art. 3(b)
- M21973 c.52.
- M31995 c.46.
- M41974 c. 28.
- P1S. 15(1) power fully exercised (4.6.1997): 16.6.1997 appointed by S.I. 1997/1418, art. 2
- P2S. 15(2) power partly exercised (10.6.1997): 16.6.1997 appointed for specified provisions by S.I. 1997/1498, art. 2s. 15(2) power partly exercised (30.7.1998): 1.9.1998 appointed for specified provisions by S.I. 1998/1902, art. 2
- F3S. 9(3) - S. 9(4) inserted (27.6.2003) by Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 7), ss. 49(2)(b), 89(2); S.S.I. 2003/288, art. 2, Sch.
- F4Words in s. 9(1) repealed (27.6.2003) by Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 7), ss. 49(2)(a), 89(2); S.S.I. 2003/288, art. 2, Sch.
- F5S. 3A inserted (1.7.2005) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), ss. 125(5), 178(8); S.I. 2005/1521, art. 3(1)(m)
- F6S. 1(1A) inserted (1.7.2005) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), ss. 125(2)(a), 178(8); S.I. 2005/1521, art. 3(1)(m)
- F7Words in s. 1(2) inserted (1.7.2005) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), ss. 125(2)(b), 178(8); S.I. 2005/1521, art. 3(1)(m)
- F8Words in s. 1(3) inserted (1.7.2005) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), ss. 125(2)(c), 178(8); S.I. 2005/1521, art. 3(1)(m)
- F9Words in s. 2(1) substituted (1.7.2005) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), ss. 125(3), 178(8); S.I. 2005/1521, art. 3(1)(m)
- F10Words in s. 3(1) substituted (1.7.2005) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), ss. 125(4), 178(8); S.I. 2005/1521, art. 3(1)(m)
- F11S. 7(5) added (1.7.2005) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), ss. 125(7)(b), 178(8); S.I. 2005/1521, art. 3(1)(m)
- F12S. 7(3) substituted (1.7.2005) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), ss. 125(7)(a), 178(8); S.I. 2005/1521, art. 3(1)(m)
- F13Words in s. 5 heading inserted (30.9.2009) by Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 (c. 28), s. 60, Sch. 10 para. 43(2); S.I. 2009/2501, art. 2(d)
- F14S. 5A inserted (30.9.2009) by Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 (c. 28), ss. 12(5), 60; S.I. 2009/2501, art. 2(a)
- F15Words in s. 7(1) substituted (30.9.2009) by Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 (c. 28), s. 60, Sch. 10 para. 44 (with Sch. 12 para. 5(3)); S.I. 2009/2501, art. 2(d)
- C2S. 7 applied (28.3.2009 for specified purposes, 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force) by Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52), ss. 230(1), 383(2) (with s. 385); S.I. 2009/812, art. 3(a)(b) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059); S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4
- C3S. 12 applied (with modifications) (28.3.2009 for specified purposes, 31.10.2009 in so far as not already in force) by Armed Forces Act 2006 (c. 52), ss. 230(2), 383(2) (with s. 385); S.I. 2009/812, art. 3(a)(b) (with transitional provisions in S.I. 2009/1059); S.I. 2009/1167, art. 4
- F16S. 8(8) repealed (7.7.2011) by Damages (Scotland) Act 2011 (asp 7), s. 19(3), Sch. 2 (with ss. 17, 19(2)); S.S.I. 2011/268, art. 3 (with art. 4)
- F17S. 8A inserted (S.) (21.7.2011) by Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2011 (asp 13), ss. 1(2), 5(2)
- F18S. 8(1A) inserted (21.7.2011) by Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2011 (asp 13), ss. 1(1), 5(2)
- F19Words in s. 9(1) inserted (21.7.2011) by Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2011 (asp 13), ss. 1(3), 5(2)
- F20S. 2A inserted (25.11.2012) by Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (c. 9), ss. 111(1), 120 (with s. 97); S.I. 2012/2075, art. 5(a)
- F21S. 4A inserted (25.11.2012) by Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (c. 9), ss. 111(2), 120 (with s. 97); S.I. 2012/2075, art. 5(a)
- F22S. 2B inserted (25.11.2012) by Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (c. 9), ss. 112, 120 (with s. 97); S.I. 2012/2075, art. 5(b)
- F23Words in s. 1(2) inserted (25.11.2012) by Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (c. 9), s. 120, Sch. 9 para. 143(2) (with s. 97); S.I. 2012/2075, art. 5(d)
- F24Words in s. 4(5) inserted (25.11.2012) by Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (c. 9), s. 120, Sch. 9 para. 143(3)(a) (with s. 97); S.I. 2012/2075, art. 5(d)
- F25Words in s. 4(6) inserted (25.11.2012) by Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (c. 9), s. 120, Sch. 9 para. 143(3)(b) (with s. 97); S.I. 2012/2075, art. 5(d)
- F26Words in s. 3 substituted (22.4.2014) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 9 para. 39(a); S.I. 2014/954, art. 2(c) (with art. 3) (with transitional provisions and savings in S.I. 2014/956, arts. 3-11)
- F27Words in s. 3(4)(b) substituted (22.4.2014) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 9 para. 39(b); S.I. 2014/954, art. 2(c) (with art. 3) (with transitional provisions and savings in S.I. 2014/956, arts. 3-11)
- F28Words in s. 3(5) omitted (22.4.2014) by virtue of Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 9 para. 39(c); S.I. 2014/954, art. 2(c) (with art. 3) (with transitional provisions and savings in S.I. 2014/956, arts. 3-11)
- F29Words in s. 3A(2) substituted (22.4.2014) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 9 para. 52; S.I. 2014/954, art. 2(c) (with art. 3) (with transitional provisions and savings in S.I. 2014/956, arts. 3-11)
- C4S. 5 modified (11.1.2015) by The Criminal Justice (European Protection Order) (England and Wales) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/3300), regs. 1(1), 13
- C5S. 5 modified (11.1.2015) by The Criminal Justice (European Protection Order) (England and Wales) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/3300), regs. 1(1), 17(7)
- F30Words in s. 4(4)(a) substituted (31.1.2017 for specified purposes, 3.4.2017 in so far as not already in force) by Policing and Crime Act 2017 (c. 3), ss. 175(1)(a), 183(1)(5)(e) (with s. 175(3)); S.I. 2017/399, reg. 2, Sch. para. 35
- F31Words in s. 4A(5)(a) substituted (31.1.2017 for specified purposes, 3.4.2017 in so far as not already in force) by Policing and Crime Act 2017 (c. 3), ss. 175(1)(b), 183(1)(5)(e) (with s. 175(3)); S.I. 2017/399, reg. 2, Sch. para. 35
- F32S. 5 repealed (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 28 (with s. 413(4)(5), 416(7), Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2
- F33S. 5A(2)-(2F) substituted for s. 5A(2) (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 24 para. 144 (with Sch. 24 para. 447, Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2
- F34S. 4B inserted (29.6.2021) by Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (c. 17), s. 90(2), Sch. 3 para. 1
- F35Words in s. 4A(6) substituted (28.4.2022) by The Criminal Justice Act 2003 (Commencement No. 33) and Sentencing Act 2020 (Commencement No. 2) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/500), regs. 1(2), 5(1), Sch. Pt. 1
- F36Words in s. 4A(5)(b) substituted (7.2.2023 at 12.00 p.m.) by The Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 (Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Powers) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/149), regs. 1(2), 2(1), Sch. Pt. 1 table
- F37Words in s. 4A(6) substituted (7.2.2023 at 12.00 p.m.) by The Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 (Magistrates’ Court Sentencing Powers) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/149), regs. 1(2), 2(1), Sch. Pt. 1 table