I am announcing my support for National Stalking Awareness Week.
This week aims to raise awareness of stalking, the different types of behaviour a stalker may display and the support services available to victims.
Stalking is defined as a pattern of repeated and unwanted attention, harassment, contact, or any other course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear. This behaviour can happen both online or in person, and can be identified by FOUR:
- Fixated – being followed on your daily routine, spied on, or being watched by someone loitering around your work or home
- Obsessed – being monitored on or offline, cyberstalking, the ordering and cancelling of items on your behalf
- Unwanted – gifts being sent or left for you; unwanted messages, letters or phone calls; even damage or graffiti being caused to your property
- Repeated – this can be any nuisance or threatening behaviour, being approached, accosted repeatedly.
Stalking can have a serious effect on victims and their lives, as well as their families and their friends. I am committed to protecting and helping vulnerable people and victims of stalking and we take all reports of stalking seriously and investigate thoroughly.
If you or someone you know is being stalking, I advise you to:
- Reach out for help and support. You can call the police on 101 or in an emergency dial 999.
- Record everything and keep a diary of incidents that occur such as dates, times, what has happened, where it has happened and whether there are any witnesses.
- Download the Hollie Guard app onto your smart phone which transforms your mobile into a personal safety alarm https://hollieguard.com/
