From April 24th – 28th Domestic Abuse Education is supporting National Stalking Awareness Week (NSAW), this year’s theme focuses on “Standing Against Stalking: Supporting Young People”. The Suzy Lamplugh Trust carried out an online pilot survey which revealed that three-quarters of respondents age 16-24 had experienced repeated, unwanted behaviours consistent with stalking.
What is stalking?
Stalking is defined by Suzy Lamplugh Trust as a pattern of fixated and obsessive behaviour which is repeated, persistent, intrusive and causes fear of violence or engenders alarm and distress in the victim. The behaviours can be offline (such as visiting the victim’s home or place of work, following the victim or leaving gifts), or online (such as unwanted social media communication, calls, texts, emails, hacking and spyware).
In March 2023 Sharon was presented with the opportunity to share her story through reenactment for the first time; if you have been following Sharon for a while, or know her well, you’ll know Sharon is a go-getter and always up for whatever life throws at her. On this occasion, she didn’t immediately respond yes, because she knew yes would come with reliving her experience in a way that she has never had to before. However, in typical Sharon fashion, after a short pause for thought, the yes did come; because her story and lived experience have the power to change lives.
You can view the video, and read more about Stalking Awareness and how to report it here; this article forms part of the National Stalking Awarness Week Campaign orchestrated by Cambridgeshire Constabulary.
Here are some stalking facts that stood out to us!
⭐ 50% of victims have curtailed or stopped work due to stalking.
⭐The Workplace Violence Research Institute found that 90% of corporate security professionals had handled 3 or more incidents of men stalking women in the workplace and claimed stalking was related to homicide in 15% of cases.
⭐75% of domestic violence stalkers will turn up at the workplace.
⭐79% of domestic violence stalker will use the work resources to target the victims.
⭐1 in 2 domestic stalkers, if they make a threat, will act on it, and 1 in 10 stalkers, who had no prior relationship, if they make a threat will act on it.
You can view other domestic abuse facts here.
