Stalking and Domestic Abuse

It’s National Stalking Awareness Week 2023 and I thought it was important to write a blog in relation to stalking and domestic abuse.

For many years, I had a preconceived idea of what stalking was. I grew up as a teenager in the 90’s and stalking wasn’t something I remember being discussed to any great extent. There was no social media back then or mobile phones. Anything you heard at the time would be through a news report or the newspapers.

Thankfully, things have changed significantly since then. The opportunities for people now to share their experiences and report stalking has been brought to the forefront with organisations such as the Suzy Lamplugh Trust

The Trust’s mission is, “to reduce the risk and prevalence of abuse, aggression, and violence – with a specific focus on stalking and harassment – through education, campaigning, and support.”

And as recently as 2021, The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 Statutory Guidance now covers Harassment or Stalking.

55. Where harassment or stalking occurs, and the perpetrator and victim are 16 or over and “personally connected”, this behaviour falls within the scope of the statutory definition of domestic abuse in the 2021 Act. For example, it may constitute physical abuse, threatening behaviour, controlling or coercive behaviour, or emotional or psychological abuse. – The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 Statutory Guidance.

Many domestic abuse victims/survivors may not realise what they are experiencing is stalking.

Domestic Abuse and Stalking:

In a domestically abusive relationship, the abuser over time, can lead the victim into believing and therefore misinterpreting protection for possession. The abuser views you as their property and they believe they have the right to complete ownership over you and what you do. It may be something as simple as following you on a night out with your friends with the pretense that they’re just checking you’re ok. Or coming up with excuses so that you’ll return home early. Whatever the reasons, the abuser knows exactly what they are doing. The stalking and abuse doesn’t always end when the relationship does.

To impact matters further, stalking is no longer just about stalking someone in person. Along with the positives in the progress of technology there is also the negative side.

With the rise of social media platforms over the years, stalking took a truly terrifying twist. Cyberstalking. This is a type of cybercrime which uses the internet and technology to harass or stalk a person. It can be considered as an addition to in-person stalking. It opens up domestic abuse victims to further danger and lack of control over their own life.

Tracking devices and software can be installed on someone’s phone, computer, iPad – all manner of devices. Including, children’s devices. They can also install tracking devices on cars. All the while, the individual has no idea that they are being constantly monitored. It is such a vast problem.

There is no easy answer to any of it. But hopefully, by raising awareness and understanding, we can begin to discuss all of the issues, including stalking, that impact those who have experienced domestic abuse.

If you are struggling and need to speak to someone for support, you can find links to support on my Resources page.