Stalking Advice
Stalking cases can be complex and occur over a significant period. Clients often need extensive and longer-term support as the impact of stalking on victims can be devastating and long-lasting. Stalking needs to be treated seriously, it’s one of the most common forms of abuse. If you or someone you know is being stalked by a former partner or family member. Use the referral online button below to refer to the IDVA service.
Stalking Safety Tips
- Report to police
- Make others aware of what’s going on
- Improve security at home
- Vary routines where possible
- Don’t give out personal information
- Collect evidence
- Consider buying a dash camera for your vehicle
- Keep a diary of incidents
- Download safety app for mobile phone such Bright Skies App
At risk of digital stalking (Cyber Stalking)?
Ensure that you follow these steps
- Change your passwords regularly
- Google yourself to check your footprint
- Check and improve privacy and security settings
- Turn off the location settings on mobile devices
- Keep anti-virus up-to-date
- Check your equipment for malware
- Limit the information you share online
- Report any stalking activity to the website
- Block suspicious accounts
Stalking or harassment
Stalking is a severe and distinct form of harassment. It’s about fixation and obsession with the victim, rather than simply attempts at annoying them. Stalking is not about petty revenge, it’s a one-sided obsessional course of conduct that has severe consequences. Harassment is usually low-level unwanted behaviour which you find offensive or which makes you feel intimidated or humiliated.
Stalking Behaviours
Stalking behaviour includes:
- Following, surveillance, spying
- Standing, loitering around your home, school, place of work etc.
- Verbal abuse or public humiliation
- Unsolicited mail, postcards, photographs, gifts from the endearing to the bizarre
- Repeatedly texting / emailing / leaving voicemails
- Planting spyware, viruses into your computer
- Hacking into your computer, email, social media accounts
- Spreading rumours, discrediting
- Threats / violence against you, your family, friends or pets
- Damage to property, stealing your belongings
- Physical violence, sexual assault, rape, murder
- Attempting to take the children away, limit access by making false allegations or engaging in parental alienation
- "Befriending" your friends, family to get closer to you
- Stealing and disturbing post / mail
- Going through rubbish bins; leaving offensive material in the garden
- Breaking into your car, home or office
- Interfering, damaging personal belongings
- Threatening your freedom by making false allegations to the police
- Blackmail - Threatening to divulge information that would be harmful to you
- Invading your personal space by standing too close or brushing against you
- Ordering unwanted goods to be delivered to your house
- Seeking physical proximity by applying for jobs where you work; joining your gym / church / professional / social / sports groups or clubs; moving into your neighbourhood or building etc.
- Leaving or sending threatening objects
- Ordering goods in your name and your address
- Identity theft - pretending to be you
- Running up debt in your name
- Cyber stalking and bullying - social networks, websites, online forums, online chat rooms, instant messaging
