The Protection from Harassment Act 1997: Failures by the Criminal Justice System in a Social Media Age

Abstract

This article will critically examine how the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 is currently being used to tackle online abuse. The use of the Internet to abuse another is on the increase, with the police receiving increasing reports concerning abuse conducted online. This article will examine the failures by the criminal justice system to adequately apply the Protection from Harassment Act in a technology-based world. It will be put forward that changes are needed within the criminal justice system in order to better protect victims of cyber harassment and cyberstalking.