Stalking
Stalking is a pattern of fixated, obsessive and unwanted behaviour which is repeated and persistent, and causes you to feel alarm and distress, and/or fear violence.
Stalking is illegal and help is available to those experiencing this. Read on for more information.
What is Stalking?
Stalking behaviours can include:
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Repeated and unwanted contact, by phone, text, online or in person
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Turning up at your home, workplace, or other places you regularly frequent
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Sending unwanted gifts - even if such gifts seem like “nice” gestures, e.g. flowers, or have a significant meaning to you
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Making contact with friends, family, colleagues or employers
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Damaging or stealing property
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Using threats or coercion to get you to respond or meet up
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Repeatedly breaching any orders that have been put in place to protect you from them.
The behaviours above are just some examples. You may be experiencing other behaviours that also constitute stalking.
If you are unsure if what is happening to you is stalking, consider if the behaviour is FOUR:
Fixated
Obsessive
Unwanted
Repeated
What can I do if I am being Stalked?
Stalking is REAL.
Report – report the stalking behaviour to the police as early as possible and continue to report every incident of stalking/unwanted contact. Ensure you get a crime reference or occurrence number from the police and use this each time you make a new report. See below for details of different ways to contact the police.
Evidence – keep any evidence you may have, such as: any gifts or items that you have been sent, any texts/call logs/emails, any CCTV, dashcam or doorbell camera footage etc.
Advice – reach out to specialist stalking services to get good practical advice. See below for details of different organisations that can help.
Log – keep a diary or log of all incidents, no matter how “small” you feel these are. It is also important to record the impact that the stalking is having on your day-to-day life.
Download our stalking and harassment log template here*.
*By clicking here, our stalking and harassment log will automatically download to your device. Please only click this link if it safe to do so.
How We Can Help?
Crossroads Derbyshire offer specialised stalking advocacy support for high-risk stalking cases. Referrals are made to us by the police and remedi (Victim Support).
Once we have received your referral, our specialist stalking advocate can offer support around:
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Advocacy with the Police and Criminal Justice System
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Court proceedings
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Safety and safety planning
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Emotional support around the impact of stalking
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Understanding and identifying stalking behaviours.
It can be confusing to know when to reach out for help. You have the right to feel safe in your home, workplace or anywhere else. If you are experiencing repeated and unwanted contact either by phone, computer or in person, please contact your local police.
You can report this to Derbyshire Police via this online form: https://www.derbyshire.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/
or call 101 to speak to an operator.
If at any point you are feeling frightened or being threatened by a stalker or if you or someone else is in immediate danger please call 999.
Support Organisations
You can get advice from the National Stalking Helpline.
Telephone: 0808 802 0300
Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 4pm (except Wednesday 9:30am to 8pm)
National Stalking Helpline
Find out about call charges
You can also contact: