Stalking
What is Stalking?
Stalking is the term used for a person’s behaviour towards another person that causes them to feel distressed, scared or unsafe.
Stalking can happen to anyone regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race or background. Generally, it describes a pattern of repeated behaviour consisting of two or more incidents and can often be identified using the ‘FOUR’ principle – behaviour that appears to be Fixated, Obsessive, Unwanted, Repeated. Stalking is a criminal offence under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997.
Examples of stalking behaviour can include (but are not limited to):
- Contacting the victim in person, in writing or via a third party such as friends and/or family members
- Interfering with the victim’s property including leaving gifts or other unwanted items
- Posting material about the victim online, and monitoring the victim. This includes Cyber Stalking, which includes unwanted phone calls and internet contact
- Loitering
- Following
Stalking occurs in a wide variety of situations and there are number of different types of stalking behaviours, ranging from an ex-intimate partner who wishes to reconcile a relationship or take revenge for the relationship having ended, to the stalker being someone the victim doesn’t know, with the motivations for stalking varying considerably.
Regardless of the circumstances, Stalking is a serious crime and if you feel a person's behaviour is putting you or another person in immediate danger, you should call 999 straight away.
However, if you don't feel confident speaking to the police there are many other agencies that can help you, as you do not need to report to the police to be entitled to support.
There are also several personal safety apps have been created to align with Smart Phones. There are a number of features to these apps depending on which one you choose, ranging from alarms and camera activations, to emergency contact sharing and access to live 24/7 Personal Safety Specialists. These apps are designed to offer peace of mind to the user and their loved ones in their day to day lives, helping them to feel less vulnerable.
You can find out more about personal safety apps on the Suzy Lamplugh Trust website.
Where can I get support?
FearFree
In Wiltshire, Domestic Abuse Charity FearFree have an Independent Stalking Advocacy Caseworker (ISAC) dedicated to supporting victims of stalking
Stalking and harassment - FearFree
Swindon Domestic Abuse Support Service (SDASS)
In Swindon, Swindon Domestic Abuse Support Service (SDASS) also have a dedicated ISAC supporting victims of stalking
Community Support - SWA - Swindon Domestic Abuse Support Services (swadomesticabuse.org)
Victim Support
In Wiltshire and Swindon, Victim Support offer support and advice to victims of stalking
Other support services that are available nationally include
National Stalking Helpline | Suzy Lamplugh Trust
Paladin – National Stalking Advocacy Service (paladinservice.co.uk)
Report a stalker - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Alice Ruggles Trust website and ‘That’s Stalking!’ Our videos | Alice Ruggles Trust
