Stalking
WHAT IS STALKING?
Stalking is a pattern of unwanted behaviour that causes the person being stalked to feel distressed or scared. The person being stalked receives persistent unwanted contact and even threats, and in the most severe cases, this can escalate towards violence, rape, or murder.
Perhaps it’s useful to consider the acronym FOUR when considering stalking:
Fixated
Obsessed
Unwanted
Repeated
The impact that stalking has on victims is devastating.
A 2018 Scottish Crime and Justice Survey found the following:
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94% said that they made changes to their life or work patterns
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53% said that they changed or left jobs
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39% said they moved home
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83% reported increased anxiety
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75% felt powerless
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74% had experienced disrupted sleep
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55% said that they suffered fatigue
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55% had flashbacks and intrusive thoughts
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24% had suicidal thoughts
STALKING BEHAVIOURS
Although sometimes people think of stalkers as strangers in the background, the Crime Prosecution Service says most stalking offences are committed by ex-partners.
Stalking can include the following behaviours:
- Multiple emails, social media messages – could be hundreds or thousands
- Tracking your movements through surveillance or tracking devices
- Repeated phone calls, texts and voicemails
- The person following you to or from home, workplace or social activities
- Notes left at your home, workplace or on your car
- Unwanted flowers or gifts
- The person showing up uninvited at your home, work or school
Stalking and harassment has many factors in common with digital abuse, but is not confined to stalking digitally, as it can be in person too.
Manchester Women's Aid RESTORE service has anti-stalking advocates that will help you with safety planning, housing, financial, emotional and mental health support as well as DASH assessments.