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Fearless
Stalking
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.
How to report stalking if you’re NOT the victim
We want you to tell us, 100% anonymously, if you have any information about someone who is carrying out stalking or who is being stalked.
Report a stalker anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via our online form:
How to report stalking if you’re a victim
For the police, you can call 101 to get your local police service or call 999 if you are in immediate danger.
Stalking victim support services
- Suzy Lamplugh Trust: National Stalking Helpline: 0808 802 0300
- Paladin: National Stalking Advocacy Service: 020 3866 4107
Understanding stalking behaviour
It’s easy to confuse stalking with other similar crime types such as harassment, domestic abuse and anti-social behaviour, so descriptions of these crimes are also included below under Related Crime Types.
Stalking is unwanted behaviour carried out by obsessive or fixated individuals whose actions disrupt their victim’s life.
Stalking results in alarm, distress or fear of violence in a victim. It may also escalate to other crimes.
The four main characteristics of stalking behaviour are:
Stalking results in alarm, distress or fear of violence in a victim. It may also escalate to other crimes.
The four main characteristics of stalking behaviour are:
- Fixated
- Obsessive
- Unwanted
- Repeated
Stalking can happen to anyone.
Recent statistics show that women are twice as likely as men to experience stalking, with mixed-race women and those aged 20–24 years at greatest risk (ONS February 2018).1
Other studies have indicated that men may under report their experiences because stalking is perceived as a crime that predominantly affects women. Also men have a different perception of someone’s intent to cause danger, and how they experience fear and distress.1
Someone is stalking you if they: 4
Recent statistics show that women are twice as likely as men to experience stalking, with mixed-race women and those aged 20–24 years at greatest risk (ONS February 2018).1
Other studies have indicated that men may under report their experiences because stalking is perceived as a crime that predominantly affects women. Also men have a different perception of someone’s intent to cause danger, and how they experience fear and distress.1
Someone is stalking you if they: 4
- Repeatedly follow or spy on you.
- Constantly call you, at home or at work.
- Repeatedly send you unwanted emails, letters, or gifts.
- Vandalize or damage your property or repeatedly leave signs to let you know they’ve been around.
- Threaten you or someone you care about.
- Ask family members or friends for information about you.
- Repeatedly—and inexplicably—show up wherever you are.
The most common forms of stalking behaviour are a stalker turning up at a victim’s work or home and watching, following or spying on a victim.1
Cyberstalking
Using technology is an increasingly common method of stalking.
Examples of cyberstalking include:
Cyberstalking
Using technology is an increasingly common method of stalking.
Examples of cyberstalking include:
- Misusing apps such as Facebook and WhatsApp to see when people were last online, seeing when comments have been made, seeing where people have checked in to places, venues and events or those that they have marked as ‘going to’. Sending multiple messages via WhatsApp, texts, messenger, snapchat etc.
- Befriending friends of the same people on social media to track movements etc.
- Spyware apps are available that enable a perpetrator to view the contents of a victim’s mobile phone. Smart devices, such as smart TVs, can be used to track or record a person without their knowledge.1
Stalking can have psychological and social impacts on a victim.
A 2017 survey of 321 self-reported stalking victims by the UK charity Network for Surviving Stalking reports that 31% of victims had taken sick leave from work because of their experiences and 25% were forced to move home (Sheridan 2017). 1
In a 2015 survey of 353 self-reported stalking victims by the National Centre for Cyberstalking Research, 45% reported symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and 51% reported symptoms of moderate to severe anxiety. 1
A 2017 survey of 321 self-reported stalking victims by the UK charity Network for Surviving Stalking reports that 31% of victims had taken sick leave from work because of their experiences and 25% were forced to move home (Sheridan 2017). 1
In a 2015 survey of 353 self-reported stalking victims by the National Centre for Cyberstalking Research, 45% reported symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and 51% reported symptoms of moderate to severe anxiety. 1
Stalking is a distinct repetitive behaviour performed by a fixated or obsessive individual; their activities as a stalker can lead into other crime types.
Harassment
Harassment includes any behaviour that makes a person feel distressed, humiliated or threatened.
It can include verbal abuse, online bullying and unwanted phone calls, which can make it seem the same as stalking.
Stalking and harassment are interrelated in UK legislation1, for a fuller description of their similarities and differences under UK law, go here.
Anti-social behaviour
Anti-social behaviour is a range of behaviours that can cause nuisance and annoyance or harm and distress to a person.
For more information on the different types of anti-social behaviour and how to report them, see our Keeping Safe page on this subject.
Domestic abuse
Stalkers do not have to live with or have ever lived with their victims. Domestic abuse is a pattern of controlling behaviour that can lead to emotional abuse and/or physical and sexual violence.
For more information on domestic abuse visit our Keeping Safe page on this subject.
Harassment
Harassment includes any behaviour that makes a person feel distressed, humiliated or threatened.
It can include verbal abuse, online bullying and unwanted phone calls, which can make it seem the same as stalking.
Stalking and harassment are interrelated in UK legislation1, for a fuller description of their similarities and differences under UK law, go here.
Anti-social behaviour
Anti-social behaviour is a range of behaviours that can cause nuisance and annoyance or harm and distress to a person.
For more information on the different types of anti-social behaviour and how to report them, see our Keeping Safe page on this subject.
Domestic abuse
Stalkers do not have to live with or have ever lived with their victims. Domestic abuse is a pattern of controlling behaviour that can lead to emotional abuse and/or physical and sexual violence.
For more information on domestic abuse visit our Keeping Safe page on this subject.
5 Stalker Types 1&3
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.
With thanks to the following information sources:
1 Houses of Parliament, Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology: Post Note Number 592, December 2018.
2 CPS: Stalking and Harassment
3 Current Psychiatry: Stalking intervention
4 Partners for Peace: Is someone stalking you
1 Houses of Parliament, Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology: Post Note Number 592, December 2018.
2 CPS: Stalking and Harassment
3 Current Psychiatry: Stalking intervention
4 Partners for Peace: Is someone stalking you
Report a stalker anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via our online form:
15 December 2023
