Harassment Remedies

Everyone has the right to go about his or her business without fear of harassment.

The Public Order Act 1986 originally gave powers for action to be taken against persons causing harassment.

Landlords of Local Authority and Housing association tenants have now been given new powers under the Housing Act 1996 to deal with nuisance tenants and those who show anti social behaviour.

The act can assist landlords and their tenants against racial harassment, domestic violence and general abuse and nuisance.

The Protection from Harassment Act 1997, which came into force in June 1997, creates a new criminal offence of harassment punishable by a term of up to six months imprisonment and a restraining order preventing the perpetrator from continuing with the harassment or approaching the complainant. The Act was primarily to deal with the problem of " stalking " but can be used in cases of racial harassment and general abuse.

The Noise Act 1996 brings remedies against those people who constantly harass others with noisy stereo's etc. Sutton Council have set up weekend anti noise patrols. The Environmental Health Department at Denmark Road Carshalton would be pleased to advise you.

It is unlikely that a one off incident would be sufficient for action to be taken against the perpetrator. However an incident should be noted as further ones in the future may be sufficient to meet the criteria for action to be taken.

Victims of harassment should report them to the police in order to build up evidence for any future prosecution.

In Sutton there are various organisations set up to assist people suffering harassment.

We have the work of the Disability Harassment Awareness Service and the Police Community Support Unit.

The Sutton Multi Agency Anti- Racial Harassment Groups is made up of voluntary organisations, the council and the police. Its main object is to tackle the problem of racial harassment and attacks in the Borough of Sutton.

The Sutton Racial Equality Council gives advice on cases of racial harassment. Telephone: 020 8770 6199.

The harassment alarm scheme has been developed in response to concerns over increasing levels of harassment. The alarms, which are an extension to the SAFECALL scheme, are given to people suffering from racial or disability harassment, domestic violence or homophobic attacks.

The Sutton Housing Aid Centre situated in the Civic Offices at Sutton can give advice to any tenant suffering harassment either from a landlord or other tenant.