Call Services for Bedfordshire on 0800 0282 887
What is harassment and stalking?
Harassment is repeated behaviour which makes you feel distressed, humiliated or threatened. The perpetrator could be someone known to you or a stranger.
Examples of harassment include:-
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Unwanted phone calls, letters, emails or visits
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Following or watching the victim
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Verbal abuse and threats
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Damaging the victim’s property.
Stalking refers to persistent and unwanted behaviour causing a victim fear, harassment and anxiety. Stalking is a criminal offence under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997.
Stalking is one of the most common types of intimate violence and most often involves a partner or ex-partner. As many as 18.1 per cent of women and 9.4 per cent of men aged 16-59 say they have been a victim of stalking. Many victims do not come forward in the mistaken belief they are overreacting. If you feel scared, worried or angered by someone’s persistent behaviour, then it is your right to seek help and protection.
How do I report harassment and stalking?
If you feel a person’s behaviour is putting you in immediate danger, you must always call 999. You can report stalking or harassment to the police on the non-emergency number 101.
1. Paws Protect
Domestic violence and pets can make for an unsafe situation, which is why we offer our Paws Protect cat fostering service. Through a network of cat fosterers, the service provides a retreat for pets of those going into a refuge until the owner has a safe place to live and they can be reunited.
All information between the cat owner and foster carer is kept confidential. Our fosterers do not know the identity or whereabouts of the cat owner and vice versa, ensuring complete anonymity.
While it is not possible for the owner to visit their cat while it is being fostered, the Paws Protect team visit the fosterer on a regular basis and provide monthly updates to the owner to give them peace of mind.
Paws Protect covers all the costs of fostering for domestic violence – including cat food, feeding bowls, beds, vaccinations etc so owners know their pet is receiving the best care.
All information between the cat owner and foster carer is kept confidential. Our fosterers do not know the identity or whereabouts of the cat owner and vice versa, ensuring complete anonymity.
While it is not possible for the owner to visit their cat while it is being fostered, the Paws Protect team visit the fosterer on a regular basis and provide monthly updates to the owner to give them peace of mind.
Paws Protect covers all the costs of fostering for domestic violence – including cat food, feeding bowls, beds, vaccinations etc so owners know their pet is receiving the best care.
2. Womens Aid in Luton 
Founded in 1972, Women’s Aid in Luton provide support and refuge to women and children who have been subjected to domestic abuse.
Services include a helpline which runs 10-5 Monday to Friday, refuge accommodation in Luton, outreach support to women and children living in Luton, and resettlement support to women moving on from our refuges. We work with women and children from all backgrounds and circumstances.
Our services offer access to peer support groups, education, one to one sessions with trained staff and access to legal advice.
We run a children’s service which is an integral part of Women’s Aid in Luton, the trained and skilled children’s support workers are able to work with the children that come into refuge to allow them to come to terms with their experiences.
Helpline: 01582 391856
Enquiries: 01582 876636
Email: info@womensaidinluton.org
Services include a helpline which runs 10-5 Monday to Friday, refuge accommodation in Luton, outreach support to women and children living in Luton, and resettlement support to women moving on from our refuges. We work with women and children from all backgrounds and circumstances.
Our services offer access to peer support groups, education, one to one sessions with trained staff and access to legal advice.
We run a children’s service which is an integral part of Women’s Aid in Luton, the trained and skilled children’s support workers are able to work with the children that come into refuge to allow them to come to terms with their experiences.
Helpline: 01582 391856
Enquiries: 01582 876636
Email: info@womensaidinluton.org
National Listings
Barnardo's 
Welcome to Boloh, Barnardo’s COVID-19 helpline and webchat for those 11+
Call us on 0800 1512605 or chat to us online
Are you a Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic child, young person, parent or carer, affected by Covid-19? You can speak to us about your worries, problems and stresses during this time, and we can provide emotional support, practical advice and signposting to other organisations who can provide further help.
If you’re a professional, you can also contact us to discuss how to support a child or young person they are working with.
Call us on 0800 1512605 or chat to us online
Are you a Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic child, young person, parent or carer, affected by Covid-19? You can speak to us about your worries, problems and stresses during this time, and we can provide emotional support, practical advice and signposting to other organisations who can provide further help.
If you’re a professional, you can also contact us to discuss how to support a child or young person they are working with.
CEOP 
CEOP (Child Exploitation Online Protection) provides advice about staying safe online for children and parents and allows victims to report any online behaviour they are uncomfortable with.
Crimestoppers 
Crimestoppers is an independent charity helping police locate criminals and solve crimes through anonymous reporting. The site also provides crime prevention advice for a number of crimes.
Digital-Trust 
Digital-Trust provides technical expertise to victims, charities, support groups and organisations working in the criminal justice system, as well as directly to people who experience digital abuse
National Domestic Violence Helpline 
The National Domestic Violence Helpline provides a national service supporting women experiencing domestic violence, their friends, family, colleagues and others calling on their behalf.
National Stalking Helpline 
The National Stalking Helpline provides specialist information and guidance to victims of harassment and stalking, as well as their family and friends.
Refuge 
Refuge offers a range of services including refuge, outreach and resettlement support to women and children who have experienced domestic violence, stalking, honour-based violence, trafficking, forced marriage and female genital mutilation.
Stonewall Housing
We give advice about different housing related issues to hundreds of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT+) people every year. We understand what you, or your friends, might be experiencing. So if you need advice, contact us. You can phone us, or you can come along to one of our drop-in surgeries. Some of the housing issues we’ve helped LGBT+ people with include:
if you’re homeless or at risk of becoming homeless;
if your relationship with your family has broken down because of your sexual orientation or gender identity;
if you’ve been victimised or harassed;
if you need to escape from domestic abuse;
if you need advice about a dispute with your landlord;
if you need advice with your housing benefits.
if you’re homeless or at risk of becoming homeless;
if your relationship with your family has broken down because of your sexual orientation or gender identity;
if you’ve been victimised or harassed;
if you need to escape from domestic abuse;
if you need advice about a dispute with your landlord;
if you need advice with your housing benefits.
Suzy Lamplugh Trust 
Suzy Lamplugh Trust offers personal safety advice and guidance on a wide range of subjects, especially in relation to stalking and harassment.
The Coroners' Courts Support Service (CCSS) 
The Coroners’ Courts Support Service (CCSS) is
an independent charity founded in 2003. Trained
volunteers offer free, confidential, emotional support
and practical help to bereaved families, witnesses and
others attending an Inquest at some of the Coroners’
Courts in England. We can signpost people to other
appropriate organisations and prior to the Inquest
we can give you support and information via our
Telephone Helpline.
an independent charity founded in 2003. Trained
volunteers offer free, confidential, emotional support
and practical help to bereaved families, witnesses and
others attending an Inquest at some of the Coroners’
Courts in England. We can signpost people to other
appropriate organisations and prior to the Inquest
we can give you support and information via our
Telephone Helpline.
The CyberSmile Foundation 
The Cyber Smile Foundation provides educational programs and support services for anyone who has been affected by cyberbullying and online harassment.
