Although Cyberbullying is not a specific criminal offence in UK law, criminal internet bullying laws such as the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 and the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 may apply as cyberbullying laws in terms of harassment or threatening behaviour. Where mobile bullying is concerned, the Telecommunications Act 1984 makes it a criminal offence to make anonymous or abusive calls. In addition, if you are harassed persistently on your mobile, it may be an offence under the 1997 Harassment Act. There is some anecdotal evidence that the police are more comfortable in bringing forward this
law when dealing with issues of Cyberbullying. The police have successfully used the Protection from Harassment Act to prosecute for the sending of offensive e-mails through the internet. Such messages will also constitute an offence under the Malicious Communications Act and be treated as one of the cyberbullying laws.
Furthermore, the Communications Act 2003 makes it a criminal offence to send: “…by means of a public electronic communications network, a message or other matter that is grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character”.