Stalking and Harassment

One in five women experience stalking at some point during their adult life – on average a victim will encounter 100 incidents before reporting it to the authorities. 

Stalking and harassment can take many forms including cyber stalking.  Legal guidance highlights that just two incidents of unwanted behaviour can be classified as stalking. 

If you are experiencing stalking or harassment, always contact the police, you have a right to feel safe in your home and workplace. 

Call 999 if you or someone else is in immediate danger. 

Contact your local police if it’s not an emergency. 

• Report it to the police as early as possible
• Tell others what is happening 
• Keep all the evidence or, if that’s not possible, take photos
• Keep a diary and include the date, time, incident, who was there, how you felt
• Trust your instinct

Stalking can involve elements of both online contact, for example emails or messages posted on social networking sites, and offline contact, for example sending gifts or following.  Cyberstalking should be treated as seriously as stalking, whether the stalking takes place online or offline.  

 Cyber Safety/Stay safe online:

• Google yourself to check your digital footprint frequently 
• Change passwords often and do not use the same password for everything
• Check privacy settings on social networking sites and limit the amount of information you put on
• Be aware of geo-location and tagging on social networking sites and ensure that this is disabled on your smartphone 
• Keep your anti-virus software up-to-date
• Report stalking to website administrators
• If you believe that your computer or smartphone has been hacked or compromised, stop using them immediately and where possible seek specialist support such as your mobile phone provider or computer repair experts for advice.

You can get advice from the following agencies:

National Stalking Helpline 
T: 0808 802 0300 / Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 4pm (except Wednesday 1pm to 4pm)
W: https://www.suzylamplugh.org/
Enquiry Form: https://www.suzylamplugh.org/forms/national-stalking-helpline-enquiry-form

Paladin National Stalking Advocacy Service 
T: 020 3866 4107 – Monday to Friday 9am to 3pm weekdays (except Wednesdays 10am to 5pm)
W: https://paladinservice.co.uk/
E: info@paladinservice.co.uk and they will make arrangements for a call at a convenient time

Protection Against Stalking
W: http://www.protectionagainststalking.org/
E: support@protectionagainststalking.org