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[tyoko]

I have never intentionally sworn on the internet, so believe me when I say this:

Mission Fucking AccomplishedNow all we can hope for is a judicious law that both doesn't curtail civil liberties and is actually effective. Time will tell, however I may be persuaded to be cautiously optimistic

Comments

[aurora77]

O_O

It wasn't a crime there? I had no idea. That's crazy to imagine.

[tyoko]

It was a crime, kinda. There are harassment laws in the UK, but it's notoriously difficult to actually convict someone using them. The harasser only need to claim that the victim was 'leading them on' to create reasonable doubt, and the victim clearly telling them to stop isn't necessarily enough. The harasser can claim that the way the victim dresses is provocative, claim things the victim has said in public or on the internet are less-than-classy and therefore invite similar sorts of attention, or even just divulge the sexual history of the victim so the jury can decide if they have a history of being a slut. Even after all this humiliation, cases generally devolve in to evidenceless he-said she-said arguments, so needless to say, very few victims of stalking actually go through with a case.

This new legislation is hopefully about making the victim's treatment by the law less of a trial by fire.

[aurora77]

Wow, I certainly hope it works!

I was briefly stalked and harassed, and it was pretty scary. And I felt comfortable going to the police. Still, though, it didn't last long, and I can't even imagine having to deal with it long-term or not feeling I can go to the authorities about it. I really hope this helps the victims. It seems unbelievably terrible to have to undergo a trial of character when you've already been victimized, but it still happens. :(