It is illegal to stalk another person – the penalties can include imprisonment
Stalking conduct can include:
following the victim or another person
contacting the victim or another person by post, telephone, text message, e-mail or other electronic communication or by any other means
entering or loitering outside or near the victim's residence or workplace or any other place frequented by the victim
interfering with property in the victim's possession
making threats to the victim or using abusive or offensive words to or in the presence of the victim
performing abusive or offensive acts in the presence of the victim
Stalking can also include:
giving offensive material to the victim or leaving it where it may be found by or brought to the attention of the victim
keeping the victim or any other person under surveillance
acting in any other way that could reasonably be expected to cause physical or mental harm to the victim, including self-harm, or to arouse apprehension or fear in the victim for his or her own safety or that of any other person.
It is an offence if:
- the offender knows that engaging in the conduct of that kind would be likely to cause such harm or arouse apprehension or fear; or
- the offender ought to have understood that their conduct would be likely to cause such harm or arouse such apprehension or fear and it actually did have that result.
NB: Harm includes psychological harm and suicidal thoughts.