Violence against women and girls

Stalking is a crime which can cause major disruption to someone’s life, involving them living in constant fear and distress and, sadly, sometimes even leading to physical illness.

Sport the FOUR signs of stalking:

• Fixated 
• Obsessive 
• Unwanted 
• Repeated - a course of conduct is conduct that occurs on at least two occasions 

Cyber stalking

Cyber stalking is the use of technology to watch, follow or spy on another person and it has been an offence in England and Wales since November 2012.

Cyber stalking includes:

• the misuse of social media apps by tracking locations, or sending multiple messages
• using social media to befriend those who are known to the victim in a bid to track the victim’s movements
• the use of spyware or cloning apps to enable the perpetrator to view the contents of the victims phone, or other smart device, including smart TV’s, air tags and other electronic devices used to track or record the other person without their knowledge

Harassment

This is defined as unwelcome contact that is persistent. Harassment includes alarming a person or causing them distress.

Types of stalkers

• The rejected stalker: (54% of studied cases) is the most common type, has the highest prevalence of violence and will pursue the victim, often a former partner, for either reconciliation or revenge. They may respond to a combination of legal and clinical interventions.
• The resentful stalker: (15% of studied cases) intends to cause fear and distress to a victim in response to perceived mistreatment. Legal sanctions, though often necessary, may exacerbate their behaviour, and they may require psychiatric treatment.
• The intimacy seeking stalker: (10% of studied cases) wants an intimate relationship with their victim and may have delusions about their relationship with the victim due to mental illness. They are unlikely to respond to legal sanctions and often require psychiatric treatment to cease stalking behaviours.
• The incompetent stalker: (11% of studied cases) attempts to forge a relationship with the victim in socially inappropriate ways. Legal sanctions can be effective. However, to prevent stalking of new victims in the future, perpetrators may require psychological treatment to change their behaviour and build social skills.
• The predatory stalker: (10% of studied cases) stalks victims for sexual gratification or in preparation for a sexual assault. Their stalking behaviour is sexually motivated and may involve carrying out stalking and sex offences simultaneously. Sex offender treatment may be used as an intervention for this type.

Further information about stalking is available on the Crimestoppers website.