The laws covering online harassment, threats, stalking, intimate image abuse and cyberflashing in England and Wales, how to collect evidence, report to platforms and police, and get support.
Online abuse can be as harmful as abuse in person, and much of it is a crime. Several laws in England and Wales cover harassment, threats, stalking and image-based abuse online, and the Online Safety Act 2023 added new offences and duties on platforms. This guide explains the main laws and what you can do. If you are in immediate danger, call 999.
The main criminal laws
- Protection from Harassment Act 1997: harassment is a course of conduct (on at least two occasions) that causes alarm or distress. It includes stalking, and covers online behaviour.
- Malicious Communications Act 1988 and Communications Act 2003 (section 127): sending grossly offensive or menacing messages.
- Online Safety Act 2023: created offences including sending threatening communications, sending false communications intended to cause harm, encouraging serious self-harm, and cyberflashing (sending unsolicited sexual images). These came into force on 31 January 2024.
- Intimate image abuse: sharing, or threatening to share, intimate images without consent is a criminal offence under the Sexual Offences Act 2003, as amended. Parliament has also legislated to make creating sexually explicit "deepfake" images of adults without consent an offence.
- Hate crime: abuse motivated by hostility based on race, religion, sexual orientation, disability or transgender identity can be prosecuted as a hate crime, with tougher sentences.
The Crown Prosecution Service publishes guidance on how these offences are prosecuted.
Civil remedies
As well as criminal action, you may be able to:
- seek an injunction under the Protection from Harassment Act;
- claim damages for harassment;
- bring a defamation claim for false statements that seriously harm your reputation (complex and potentially expensive, so take advice);
- use data protection rights to request removal of personal data.
Step 1: collect evidence
- Take screenshots showing the content, the account name and the date and time.
- Save URLs and message links.
- Keep a log of incidents, with dates and how they affected you.
- Don't delete messages before saving them, and don't engage with the abuser.
For intimate images, don't screenshot or share the images; note the URL and seek specialist help.
Step 2: report to the platform
Use the platform's reporting tools. Under the Online Safety Act, platforms must have systems to remove illegal content and to protect users, with Ofcom as the regulator. Block and mute accounts, and review privacy settings.
If a platform doesn't act, Report Harmful Content can help with some types of legal but harmful content.
Step 3: report to the police
Report to your local police by calling 101 or online. In an emergency, call 999. Give them your evidence and log. If you're not satisfied with the response, you can ask for the matter to be reviewed.
Intimate image abuse: specialist help
The Revenge Porn Helpline supports adults experiencing intimate image abuse and can help get images removed. StopNCII.org lets you create digital fingerprints of images to help platforms block them. For under-18s, the NSPCC's Childline and the Internet Watch Foundation's Report Remove tool can help remove images.
Support
- Victim Support: free, confidential support for victims of crime.
- Suzy Lamplugh Trust: runs the National Stalking Helpline.
- Samaritans: 116 123, any time, if you're struggling.
At work or school
If harassment involves colleagues, report it to your employer under its policies; employers have a duty to prevent sexual harassment of their workers. Schools should have anti-bullying policies covering online behaviour.
Frequently asked questions
Is one offensive message a crime?
It can be, under communications offences, depending on its content. Harassment requires a course of conduct.
What if the abuser is anonymous?
Police can sometimes request information from platforms. Report it anyway.
Sources and further reading
- CPS: Communications offences
- Report Harmful Content
- Revenge Porn Helpline
- Victim Support
- Suzy Lamplugh Trust
Facts checked on 20 October 2026. Spotted an error? Tell us and we will correct it.