Report non-contact sexual offences or harassment
Unwanted sexual behaviour that makes you feel unsafe, distressed, or violates your privacy, is a criminal offence.
If someone’s sexual behaviour has made your feel unsafe, distressed or has violated your privacy, there is support available to you, whether you choose to report it to the police or not.
Consent must be freely given. If you feel pressured, threatened, or intimidated, that is not consent.
Non-contact sexual offences
Non-contact sexual offences are behaviours of a sexual nature where there is no physical contact, but the actions are still harmful, distressing, and in many cases criminal.
These behaviours can violate a person’s dignity, privacy, and sense of safety.
Types of non-contact sexual offences
Non-contact sexual offences are criminal offences which you can report to the police.
Examples of these offences include:
- Indecent exposure – deliberately exposing genitals to cause alarm or distress
- Voyeurism – watching or recording someone in a private act without their consent and for sexual gratification
- Cyberflashing – sending unsolicited sexual images to someone without their consent
- Sharing or threatening to share intimate images or videos without consent – sometimes called ‘revenge porn’
- Sexual threats – threatening someone with sexual violence or harm
- Stalking with a sexual element – repeated behaviour that causes fear or distress and has a sexual motivation. You can see further information about types of stalking and harassment.
Sexual harassment
Sexual harassment is unwanted behaviour of a sexual nature that can make someone feel uncomfortable, intimidated, or unsafe.
Types of sexual harassment
Types of sexual harassment can include:
- sexual comments, jokes, gestures (including using names like ’slut’ or ‘whore’)
- repeated unwanted messages or other contact – including emails, texts or direct messages (DMs)
- staring or leering at your body
- groping and touching
- sharing sexual photos or videos
- someone exposing themselves
- pressuring you to do sexual things or offering you something in exchange for sex
- inappropriate behaviour of sexual nature in workplaces, schools, or public spaces
Some sexual harassment is dealt with under civil law (for example, through workplace procedures). However, some behaviour may also amount to a criminal offence, particularly if it is repeated, threatening, or causes alarm or distress. There is also further information about types of stalking and harassment.
If you are unsure whether something is a crime, you can still report it. We will guide and support you.
Report non-contact sexual offences or harassment
We encourage reporting what has happened, but understand it can be a difficult decision to make. All reports are treated as a priority and always taken seriously.
You should always trust your instincts – if something feels wrong, it matters.
Immediate danger
If you are in an emergency, someone is in immediate danger or a crime is in progress – always call 999
You can report non-contact sexual offences or harassment to us by:
- submitting an
- visiting your local police station
Reports, even anonymous ones, help us to identify patterns of behaviour which helps protect others and prevent further harm.
If you are not yet ready to report this, we encourage you to tell someone you trust or access support services.
Other ways to report
You can also report:
- anonymously to Crimestoppers
- local areas where you feel unsafe, using the Streetsafe form
Support for victims
You can access advice and support through our XXX page which lists other agencies. (either of the links below appropriate?)