A National Legal Framework to Criminalise Sustained Bullying and Protect Adults from Psychological Harm
Overview
Willow’s Law for Adults establishes a new legal category of abuse—Sustained Psychological or Social Harm (SPSH)—to criminalise repeated bullying behaviour by adults in the UK. It recognises bullying as a form of ongoing psychological violence, capable of causing mental illness, self-harm, and suicide. This extension ensures that bullying is addressed with the same seriousness as harassment, stalking, and coercive control, closing the gaps in current legislation.
1. Legal Definition of Adult Bullying
Under Willow’s Law, bullying by adults is defined as:
“Any repeated, targeted, or patterned behaviour by an individual or group that causes psychological, emotional, social, or reputational harm to another adult, whether in person, online, at work, or in any community or social context.”
This definition covers:
• Workplace bullying
• Online harassment
• Group targeting or humiliation
• Social exclusion used as harm
• Emotional degradation
• Psychological intimidation
• Repeated verbal attacks
• Persistent manipulation or degradation
• Cyberbullying across any digital platform
This definition ensures bullying is recognised as a distinct criminal form of abuse, not dismissed as a “workplace issue” or “personal conflict.”
2. Age of Application
Willow’s Law applies to any individual aged 18 and above, with mirrored provisions to the child-focused version (10+).
This makes bullying a legally recognised harm across all ages, not just in school environments.
For a first confirmed offence of sustained bullying:
• The offender receives a formal statutory bullying warning, registered with police (similar to a harassment warning).
• They must attend a mandatory Bullying Behaviour Intervention Programme, including empathy training, conflict resolution, and psychological education.
• Employers (if relevant) are legally obligated to be notified and must document the incident.
Purpose:
To correct behaviour early, formally document patterns, and prevent escalation without immediately criminalising.
Tier 2 – Criminal Notice, Fines & Mandatory Support
Triggered if:
• The adult reoffends,
• The behaviour escalates, or
• The offender refuses Tier 1 intervention.
Tier 2 consequences:
• Behaviour is logged as repeat-offender bullying
• Mandatory counselling or psychological intervention
• Legal fines proportional to the harm caused
• Digital restrictions for online abuse (platform bans, police monitoring)
• Employers become legally required to implement protection plans for victims
Purpose:
To impose criminal accountability while giving the adult opportunities to rehabilitate safely.
Tier 3 – Criminal Charge: “Causing Harm by Sustained Bullying”
Triggered if:
• The bullying continues after Tier 2
• The victim suffers significant mental health decline
• The victim attempts suicide
• The victim dies by suicide
Under Tier 3, the offender faces:
• Criminal charges
• Possible imprisonment
• Court-ordered rehabilitation
• Restraining orders
• Digital activity restrictions
Purpose:
To treat sustained adult bullying with the same seriousness as assault, coercive control, and stalking.
National Register & Mandatory Reporting
National Bullying-Related Harm Register
Willow’s Law creates the UK’s first database for:
• Repeated adult bullying offences
• Mental health referrals linked to bullying
• Adult suicides where bullying is a contributing factor
• Workplace bullying cases
• Online bullying cases leading to harm
This fills the current data void and provides Parliament with the evidence needed for resource allocation and law reform.
Mandatory Workplace Reporting
Under Willow’s Law:
• Workplaces must report confirmed bullying to local authorities or police.
• HR departments can no longer “handle internally” or bury evidence.
• Failure to report = fines and liability for mental health damages.
Mandatory Online Reporting
Digital platforms must:
• Report repeated bullying accounts to police
• Provide data when harm is suspected
• Cooperate with investigations
This closes the loophole where trolls hide behind usernames or platform policies.
5. Mental Health Protections
Willow’s Law requires:
• Automatic mental health screening for victims of sustained bullying
• Priority access to psychological support
• Workplace obligations to safeguard and adjust environments
• Clinical links between GP, mental health services, and safeguarding teams
6. Why This Law Is Needed
Because adults can be bullied into breakdowns, silence, job loss, isolation — and suicide.
Current laws scatter the issue across harassment, stalking, coercive control, workplace policies, and online safety legislation. None recognise bullying as a specific, repeated, patterned harm.
Willow’s Law changes that.
It recognises adult bullying as the psychological violence it is, treats it with criminal seriousness, and prevents excuses and loopholes that currently allow abusers to continue with little consequence.