Stalking and harassment

Harassment is when you receive persistent (more than one occasion), unwanted behaviour.

This behaviour may include but is not limited to:

• bullying at school or in the workplace
• cyber stalking (using the internet to harass someone)
• antisocial behaviour
• sending abusive text messages
• sending unwanted gifts
• unwanted phone calls, letters, emails or visits

Stalking is similar to harassment but it is driven by obsession. The stalker will have an obsession with the victim. Stalking is sometimes carried out by people you know but it can also be a stranger. Whether you know the person or not, stalking is not your fault.

The impact of harassment and stalking ranges from annoyance to fearing violence from the person in question. It’s a particularly difficult crime to cope with because it often takes place over long periods of time. This can lead to victims constantly feeling afraid or anxious.

Stalking can build slowly and, for that reason, you may initially question whether you are being targeted or not.

It is very important to keep safe, both when you are out and about and when at home. You can take a look at our crime prevention page where there is a host of different things you could enhance or adopt here.

It is also advisable to consider your cyber safety: change passwords regularly, check privacy settings, disable geo-location applications on your smartphone and keep anti-virus software up to date.

If you choose to report to the police, it can be helpful to keep a diary of events to help build a picture of what is exactly happening, and help with investigations. Retain letters, emails and texts sent by the person harassing you.

Here at the Victim Care Service we can help find the right support for you. We have experience in providing help and support as well as working with other specialist agencies in the community who offer support for victims of stalking and harassment.