Why is it important to act quickly when gathering evidence of online harassment?

Digital evidence can vanish quickly because accounts are deleted, messages are erased, and platforms may only retain data for limited periods. Therefore, acting quickly to preserve evidence is essential. You should capture screenshots, video recordings, and message exports immediately to ensure the material remains available for police reports, civil injunctions, or platform complaints.

What specific details should be included in screenshots of harassing messages?

You should capture screenshots of every harassing message, post, or comment. It is crucial to include the full URL, username, date, and timestamp in each screenshot. To ensure context is visible, you should zoom out. Additionally, you should copy the full URL from the browser address bar and use your device's screen recorder for live harassment or stories that may disappear.

What records should I keep after reporting harassment to a platform or the police?

You should report the harassment to the platform first, as this creates a record and may result in swift action. You need to keep the reference number from the platform report and take screenshots of their response, or evidence of no response. If you have reported to the police, you should also retain the police crime reference number and any response from Action Fraud for financially motivated harassment.

How can I document the impact of online harassment on my well-being?

You should prepare an impact statement describing how the harassment has affected your mental health, work, or daily life. This is useful for injunction applications and sentencing if criminal charges follow. If relevant, you should also gather medical records or GP evidence of psychiatric harm. Additionally, you should collect any evidence of the harasser's identity, such as profile information or mutual contacts.

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evidence

Criminal Law / Civil Litigation

Updated 2026-04-09

Evidence Checklist for an Online Harassment Case

How to document and preserve evidence of online harassment, stalking, or abuse for police reports, civil injunctions, or platform complaints.

Overview

Digital evidence can disappear quickly — accounts are deleted, messages are erased, and platforms may only retain data for limited periods. Acting quickly to preserve evidence is essential. Online harassment may constitute criminal offences under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, the Malicious Communications Act 1988, the Communications Act 2003, or the Online Safety Act 2023. Civil injunctions are also available.

0 of 11 items checked

Screenshots and Digital Evidence

Screenshots of every harassing message, post, or comment(Essential)

Include the full URL, username, date, and timestamp in every screenshot — zoom out to show context

Full URL of each harassing post or profile (copy from the browser address bar)(Essential)

Video recordings of live harassment or stories that may disappear

Use your device's screen recorder — third-party recording apps may be needed for live video

Download or export of message threads (WhatsApp, iMessage, DMs) with timestamps(Essential)

Platform and Police Records

Reference number from reports made to the platform (Twitter/X, Facebook, Instagram, etc.)(Essential)

Report to the platform first — this creates a record and may result in swift action

Screenshots of the platform's response (or evidence of no response)

Police crime reference number (if you have reported to the police)

Any response from Action Fraud (for financially motivated harassment)

Impact and Context

Impact statement describing how the harassment has affected you (mental health, work, daily life)

Useful for injunction applications and sentencing if criminal charges follow

Medical records or GP evidence of psychiatric harm if relevant

Evidence of the identity of the harasser (profile info, mutual contacts, IP data if available)

Related Guides

Related Rights

Official Resources

Revenge Porn Helpline →Action Fraud →Suzy Lamplugh Trust — National Stalking Helpline →

Frequently asked questions

Why is it important to act quickly when gathering evidence of online harassment?: Digital evidence can vanish quickly because accounts are deleted, messages are erased, and platforms may only retain data for limited periods. Therefore, acting quickly to preserve evidence is essential. You should capture screenshots, video recordings, and message exports immediately to ensure the material remains available for police reports, civil injunctions, or platform complaints.
What specific details should be included in screenshots of harassing messages?: You should capture screenshots of every harassing message, post, or comment. It is crucial to include the full URL, username, date, and timestamp in each screenshot. To ensure context is visible, you should zoom out. Additionally, you should copy the full URL from the browser address bar and use your device's screen recorder for live harassment or stories that may disappear.
What records should I keep after reporting harassment to a platform or the police?: You should report the harassment to the platform first, as this creates a record and may result in swift action. You need to keep the reference number from the platform report and take screenshots of their response, or evidence of no response. If you have reported to the police, you should also retain the police crime reference number and any response from Action Fraud for financially motivated harassment.
How can I document the impact of online harassment on my well-being?: You should prepare an impact statement describing how the harassment has affected your mental health, work, or daily life. This is useful for injunction applications and sentencing if criminal charges follow. If relevant, you should also gather medical records or GP evidence of psychiatric harm. Additionally, you should collect any evidence of the harasser's identity, such as profile information or mutual contacts.
Which laws cover online harassment in England and Wales?: Online harassment may constitute criminal offences under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, the Malicious Communications Act 1988, the Communications Act 2003, or the Online Safety Act 2023. In addition to criminal prosecution, civil injunctions are also available as a legal remedy for victims of online harassment, stalking, or abuse.