This week is National Stalking Awareness Week, an awareness event organised by the UK’s personal safety charity the Suzy Lamplugh Trust.
The charity’s recent survey found that 77 per cent of respondents had experienced at least one repeated harmful behaviour due to stalking.
This increased to 84 per cent among people from black, Asian, and minority ethnic backgrounds, and to 87 per cent among people who identified as female or non-binary.
Find out below what constitutes stalking and what to do if you’re affected.
What is National Stalking Awareness Week?
National Stalking Awareness Week is an annual event dedicated to raising awareness of stalking. This year, it takes place from April 24 until April 28.
This year’s theme is “Standing Against Stalking: Supporting Young People”. The Suzy Lamplugh Trust is aiming to educate people aged 16 to 24 about the dangers of stalking.
The charity says an increasing number of people aged 16 to 24 are contacting its helpline for support in dealing with unwanted behaviour.
What is stalking?
The Suzy Lamplugh Trust defines stalking 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”.
“Stalking can include many types of unwanted behaviour, online or in-person and will affect one in five women and one in 10 men in their lifetime,” the charity says.
“It can lead to feelings of depression, anxiety and even post-traumatic stress. It can be a psychological as well as a physical crime.”
Our CEO @BhakerSuky welcomes you to National Stalking Awareness Week 2023.
— Suzy Lamplugh Trust (@live_life_safe) April 24, 2023
The theme this year is #StandingAgainstStalking, highlighting the urgent need to stand together with young people to support them to recognise stalking and access specialist support #NSAW2023 pic.twitter.com/wTfAPlT6r4
Advice for people affected by stalking - what to do
The Suzy Lamplugh Trust has shared advice for people experiencing stalking behaviour:
Report repeated and unwanted behaviour
Report behaviour to a social media platform’s support team and the police by calling 101. You can also call the Suzy Lamplugh Trust’s National Stalking Helpline on 0808 802 0300, Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 4pm (except Wednesday 9.30am to 8pm).
Make copies of all instances of stalking
Take screenshots or print pages of online abuse, making sure to include the profile’s information.
Cease contact with the stalker immediately
If you feel able to, stop communicating with the stalker immediately and call the National Stalking Helpline.
Check the privacy settings on your devices
Check the privacy settings on your phone and computer, as well as devices such as Airpods, Airtags, and Apple Wallets. If you suspect someone has accessed your devices, seek specialist help to capture the evidence before removing their access.
Check your social media settings
Check your social media settings (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok, for example) to see who can view your profile and posts, and who can contact you. Be aware that Instagram reels are publicly viewable even if your account is private.
Alert your friends and family
Let the people around you know that you are being stalked. Encourage them to check their own online security and to be careful about what they share about you online. Ask them to avoid engaging with your stalker.
Check your GPS settings on social media
Check your social media apps for their live location settings. Many social media platforms use GPS tracking to tag your location to posts and photos. BeReal and Snapchat use very accurate location sharing.
Avoid sharing personal information online
Avoid sharing information about your exact location or your home address online, even if you have a private account.
Be cautious when accepting friend requests
Accept friend requests from only people you know. If you receive a friend request from someone you don’t know, check to see if you have mutual friends with them.
Review your personal information
Review what personal information exists about you online and remove any unwanted information. Google yourself and see if you can find your address, phone number or other personal details.
Remove yourself from the public listing of the electoral register and ensure your phone number is ex-directory.
