Types of harrassment
What is harassment?
Harassment includes deliberate action against one or more people usually, (but not always) because of their:
- race or ethnic origin
- disability
- age
- sexuality
- sex
- learning difficulties
- religious belief
- HIV or AIDS status
- other vulnerability (not covered by the above).
What is racial harassment?
Racial harassment is a criminal offence and should be reported to the police. Racial harassment is defined as 'an incident which is perceived to be racist by the victim or any other person'.
Racial harassment can be in many forms. Examples can include:
- verbal racial abuse and name calling
- printed material and literature
- graffiti
- physical assault
- damage to property
- threats and intimidation
- complaints about noise
- smells and uncleanliness
- victimisation and bullying of children by neighbours or other children
- false malicious complaints
- abusive text messages or phone calls.
What is domestic violence?
There are many different forms of domestic violence, including:
- physical
- sexual
- emotional
- psychological
- financial violence such as refusing to give you any money to live on.
Domestic violence happens in an intimate or family-type relationship and forms a pattern of threatening and controlling behaviour. This can include forced marriage and so-called 'honour crimes'. Domestic violence can also take place in lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender relationships, and can involve other family members, including children.