Stalking
Very often stalking and harassment is seen as a celebrity issue. However the majority of stalking cases involve ordinary people. Research has demonstrated that it is a gendered crime. 86% of victims are women (Sheridan 2005). Women are most often stalked by former partners or men that are known to them. Stalking can involved a range of behaviours including unwanted phone calls, texts, letters, gifts, contact with friends and family, emails. In considering the issue of stalking and harassment, it is helpful to keep in mind these four key elements:
• repeated behaviour
• threat
• the reaction of the victim
• the intent of the perpetrator
An estimated 1.2 million women were subjected to stalking during 2003 (Walby & Allen, British Crime Survey, 2004)