Harassment & Stalking
Lawson-Cruttenden & Co. is the leading practice in the area of "stalking" and assisted in the drafting of the Stalking Bill 1996 and the Protection from Harassment Act 1997. Tim Lawson-Cruttenden is the co-author of Blackstones Guide to that Act which is presently the only dedicated textbook on this subject.

The Protection from Harassment Act 1997 ('the Act') came fully into force on 1st September 1998 when s3(3)-(9) were implemented. The most radical of the new provisions is s 3(6) which provides that breach of a civil injunction ordered under the Act 'without reasonable excuse' is a criminal offence punishable by up to five years imprisonment.

Lawson-Cruttenden & Co acted for the Claimant in the case of Burris v Azadani (1995) 4 ALL ER 802, CA, that created the tort of harassment.

If you have been the victim of Stalking please click here.

Reference
Innocent Stalkers - Published in The Spectator, 20th January 2001
David Lovibond, a former persistent suitor, says the harassment laws are a threat to blameless lovers.

Bully Insured - Published in The Guardian, 8th December 1998
An Act designed to deter stalkers could also protect employees from harassment.

Harassment Injunctions - Published in Solicitors Journal, 13th November 1998
Breach of a civil injunction is now a criminal offence under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997. Does this alter the civil burden of proof?