Victims of Crime, Stalking and Harassment: What are my options?

As a result of the continuingly expanding use and availability of the internet and social media, there has unfortunately and, perhaps inevitably, been a rise in certain types of crime, including malicious communications, blackmail, stalking and harassment. The targets of such crime are often well-known and high-profile individuals such as actors and actresses, musicians, politicians, and sports personalities some of whom will have a significant online presence. However, the victims can also often be a member of the public who has never had a public profile.

Thomson Heath Jenkins & Associates has extensive experience representing such clients and is in a unique position to offer our clients both (where relevant) criminal and civil avenues to address these crimes.

The firm has acted for a number of high-profile victims of stalking and harassment and has vast experience in giving specialist civil advice, as well as supporting our clients to navigate the criminal processes, and communicating effectively with the police and the Crown Prosecution Service (if this is a more appropriate route to follow). Similarly, we have represented individuals subject to campaigns of harassment and have often been able to stop an issue early on, before it escalates.

The team is headed up by Mark Thomson, who has over twenty years of experience successfully representing clients in civil harassment actions and has been a pioneer of harassment injunctions against intrusive paparazzi photographers. Mark is assisted by former Metropolitan Police Officer, Michelle Roycroft. Given Michelle’s background and connections, she is able to assist our clients with police liaison to report crimes, overseeing any investigations and subsequent court cases, and providing specialist input on civil claims whether through civil injunctions, or assisting the Police/CPS in obtaining stalking prevention/restraining orders or other

The firm also has considerable knowledge and the required skills and expertise to deal with the rise in online crime such as cyber bullying, revenge porn and the hacking and distribution of private photographs. We have significant experience in removing online material from the internet and social media platforms as well mainstream media, If necessary, Thomson Heath Jenkins & Associates is able to obtain Court orders against large corporations or Internet Service Providers, including Apple, Google, Facebook and various other tech and social media platforms, to obtain critical information and details that may assist with a claim, not limited to IP addresses, contact details and/or other identifying features of potential perpetrators.

We provide realistic advice to clients about what is and what is achievable when it comes to removing material from the internet and dark web, especially given the ever increasing use of Artificial Intelligence and those that seek to exploit AI for unlawful means. We can also advise clients on their legal options where the perpetrators are known and possible ways of finding out who is behind anonymous activity where they are not.

To find out more, please do get in touch. Thomson Heath Jenkins & Associate provide a 24/7 service and in urgent situations, please do contact any of the following members of the team;

• Michelle Roycroft – michelle@thomsonheath.com
• Mark Thomson – mark@thomsonheath.com
• Moritz Schirmeister – moritz@thomsonheath.com
• Isabella Ritchie – bella@thomsonheath.com
• Yinka McKay Wood – yinka@thomsonheath.com
• Niamh McArdle – niamh@thomsonheath.com