In the UK, the terms ‘harassment’, ‘intimidation’ and ‘abuse’ are often used interchangeably as the experience for victims can overlap[1]. The Home Office and the Department of Health Guidance on Developing and Implementing Multi-agency Policies and Procedures to Protect Vulnerable Adults from Abuse define abuse as a single act or repeated physical, verbal or psychological acts that violate an individual’s human and civil rights. Some cases of abuse constitute criminal offences. For example, physical, psychological or sexual assault, theft, fraud and gender and racial discrimination.
The Protection from Harassment Act 1997 indicates that someone’s actions amount to harassment when they make the victim feel distressed, humiliated, threatened or fearful of further violence. The main goal of harassment is to persuade victims either not to do something that they are entitled or required to do or to do something that they are not obliged to do. Actions listed under the Protection from Harassment Act include, but are not limited to:
phone calls
letters
emails
visits
stalking
verbal abuse of any kind, including on social media
threats
damage to property
bodily harm[2].
Such actions amount to harassment when they occur more than once.
https://www.local.gov.uk/definition-harassment-abuse-and-intimidation
My bold.
Upton tried to intimidate Peggie by enlisting the support of others in front of her in order to make her feel powerless. He used his higher rank in work to close ranks over her.
This is why this part is significant - it shows an example of harassment as defined in law. NC has to prove this happened on at least two occasions for a harassment claim to succeed.