Stalking
Stalking is any type of behaviour which is persistent and unwanted, causing its victim to feel fear, distress, or anxiety. It is sometimes difficult to define as stalkers can use multiple methods to harass their victims.
Stalker harassment methods can include things like sending gifts, making unwanted or malicious communication, damaging property, following victims, and physical or sexual assault.
Stalking is commonly associated with celebrities, but it can affect people from all walks of life. Approximately 45% of people who contact the National Stalking Helpline are being stalked by people they have previously been in a relationship with, while a further third will have some sort of prior acquaintance with their stalker.
The legal definition of stalking is a “criminal activity consisting of the repeated following and harassing of another person.”
Stalking is a distinctive form of criminal activity as it is usually composed of a series of actions that taken individually might constitute legal or ‘normal’ behaviour. For example, sending flowers, writing love notes or letters, and waiting for someone outside their place of work are actions that, on their own, are not criminal. When these actions are coupled with an intent to instil fear or injury, however, they may constitute a pattern of behaviour that is illegal and constitutes stalking.
Stalking can cause severe psychological distress to a victim, even if there is no physical violence. Victims can suffer from depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, paranoia, agoraphobia, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Comparitech have prepared a useful resource about cyber stalking and how to protect yourself online which you can read here :
How To Stop A Stalker
Although anti-stalking laws give police the tools to arrest and charge stalkers with a criminal offence, victims of stalking have a very important role in making these laws work. Here is the advice given by police, domestic violence counsellors and mental health professionals on how to stop a stalker:
- Protect Yourself. Inform family, friends, colleagues and neighbours about the stalker and give them instructions on what to do if they see the stalker. Install caller ID on phones, and keep any messages, texts, or ‘gifts’ you are sent, along with a record of the stalking behaviour.
- Collect Evidence. A stalking victim should collect evidence that could be used to convict the stalker. Police suggest keeping a diary of stalking and other crimes committed by the perpetrator. Photograph any property destroyed by the stalker and injuries inflicted by the stalker. Keep all letters, notes, answering machine messages, texts, social media correspondence.
- Find out which laws apply to your case and show this to the police when reporting the stalking behaviour.
- Prosecute the stalker. Many victims fear that prosecution will make the stalker’s behaviour even worse, and leave them vulnerable to continued threats and violence. The legal process can however help to break the bond between the victim and the stalker.
How Can We Help?
Victim Support NI can provide practical and emotional help and support to all victims of crime, even if the crime has not been reported to the police. We work with a number of partner agencies, and can refer victims for specialist help.
