In everyday life, people often joke about “stalking” someone on social media, or describe someone’s behaviour as a bit “stalky”. But these casual uses of the word can blur the reality of stalking as a serious crime.
According to the Crime Survey for England and Wales, around 1.4 million people aged 16 and over experienced stalking in the year ending March 2025. Yet our recent research suggests young people might not recognise what stalking is, particularly when it comes from someone they know.
