Stalking
Types of Stalking
Unwanted contact
Repeated, unwanted calls, texts or messages. This can include messaging or using technology, such as AI, to automate messages, emailing from different accounts or sending unexpected letters or gifts. It can also include creating fake social media profiles to follow or harass someone, repeatedly commenting on posts, signing people up to unwanted services to intimidate and harass them, hacking into personal accounts or posting rumours or threats.
Following or turning up
Showing up where someone is without being invited – at their home, workplace or places they usually go, even if they don't approach you or let you know they are there. It can also include following them in public or waiting nearby. It can include using technology, such as reverse image search or AI, to locate where a person frequents.
Sharing private information
Posting or sharing someone’s personal details or threatening to share photos or intimate images without their permission. This may be used to intimidate, embarrass or frighten individuals, or to manipulate them to respond to contact.
Abusive or vexatious behaviour
This could include sending abusive messages, making threats, damaging property or using others to pass on unwanted messages. It could also refer to bringing vexatious litigation or vexatious counter-allegations against someone.
Monitoring and surveilling
Gathering information about or keeping tabs on someone. This can include checking their social media, taking photos or videos, repeatedly driving past their home or asking others for updates about them. It also includes misusing smart and connected devices to monitor people. This can take many forms, with technologies including smart home systems like video doorbells or home security systems, and everyday devices such as fitness trackers and smartphones to track someone’s location. Other examples include hiding recording devices or trackers without a person’s knowledge.
The impact of stalking
Ask the women and girls you know if they’ve ever felt watched, followed, pressured or unsettled by someone’s behaviour, and more than you expect may say yes.
Stalking is far more common than most people realise. Whether it’s persistent messages, being followed or the constant fear of what might happen next, its impact reaches far beyond the moments when it happens. It affects victims, their families and society.
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Whether it happens once or builds up over time, stalking can affect every part of a person’s life – their health, confidence, safety and independence. Here are just some of the ways it can have a negative impact:
- It can cause anxiety, panic, hypervigilance, sleep problems, nightmares and intrusive thoughts, as well as a constant sense of being watched or feeling unsafe.
- The stress of being followed, contacted or monitored can make it difficult to focus on work, study or maintain day-to-day routines.
- People may change how they travel, where they go, or what they do, avoiding certain routes, shops or public places because they no longer feel safe.
- It can take away someone’s sense of freedom, leaving them scared to answer the door, check their phone, be alone at home or leave the house.
- It can make people retreat from digital spaces and the online world.
- In the most serious cases, Stalking can lead to physical violence or even death.
If you’ve experienced stalking, you don’t have to face it alone. Support is available whenever you’re ready.
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Stalking has serious consequences. Some people don’t recognise their behaviour as stalking at first. They might think they’re just ‘checking in’ or ‘keeping an eye out’ without realising how harmful their behaviour is. These actions can lead to:
- Losing the trust and respect of partners, friends, family or colleagues.
- Facing criminal charges under stalking, harassment or public order laws, which could result in penalties, such as fines and/or imprisonment. Also, court orders can be made against you, such as stalking protection orders or restraining orders.
- Long-term damage to work, reputation and future opportunities.
If you’re worried about your behaviour, it’s not too late to change. Support is available to help you understand your actions and learn how to stop.
How to change your behaviour
Need support?
If you’re dealing with stalking, or worried it’s happening to you or someone else, you don’t have to handle it on your own. Talking to someone who understands stalking can help you feel less alone and clearer about what to do next.
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