1) Proper Knowledge about Stalking:
Stalking is a pattern of behaviour that makes you feel afraid, nervous, harassed, or in danger. It is when someone repeatedly contacts you, follows you, sends you things, talks to you when you don’t want them to, or threatens you.
The majority of stalking victims are women but men can be victims too. Head of North Yorkshire Police’s Safeguarding Team says: “Stalking can have a long-lasting impact on victims, which can be both physical and psychological. In addition, there is often further impact socially and economically”.
2) Identify Stalking Behaviours
- Knowing victims schedule, track, harass or frighten you.
- Following and show up at places victim goes.
- Calling or texting repeatedly.
- Creating a fake web or spread rumours on social networking sites.
- Stealing or damage the victim’s home, car, or other property.
- Sending unwanted or unsolicited gifts, letters, cards, pictures, or e-mails.
- Monitoring phone calls or computer use.
- Using hidden cameras or global positioning systems for tracking
- Threatening to hurt victim, victim’s family, friends, or pets.
3) Recognize the Impacts of Being Stalked
- Feel helpless, impatient, fearful, angry or depressed.
- Have nightmares, flashbacks, disturbing thoughts, feelings, or memories.
- Feel vulnerable, unsafe, and not know who to trust.
- Think the person is always watching you.
- Feel confused, frustrated, or isolated because other people don’t understand why you are afraid
- Have difficulty sleeping or concentrating.
- Lose or gain weight for forgetting to eat or overeating
- Anxious for not know what might happen next
4) Stalking Precautions
According to the National Crime Victimization Survey, nearly 70 percent of stalking victims knew their offender in some way. So taking the following initiatives are essential.
- Don’t speak to or engage with the stalker.
- Let know friends or family members, school principal, or another adult you can trust, when you are afraid or need help.
- Find out about your legal rights to protection from stalking.
- Be aware of own online profile and how much information you make public.
- Make sure personal data is safe. Change your password frequently.
- Consider carrying a personal alarm or download a personal safety app like Hollie Guard on your smartphone: hollieguard.com
- When you go out, tell someone where you are going and when you’ll be back.
- In an emergency, call 911 or your local police department.
Keep a cell phone handy. - Save notes, letters, or other items that are sent to you and keep a record of all other contacts from the person who is stalking.
- Take photographs of the texts and print out any emails you receive in case they are deleted. These items will be very useful to the police.
5) Help Someone Else
If you know someone who is being stalked, you can:
- Ask how you can help & offer your support.
- Be a good listener.
- Encourage your friend to seek help.
- Avoid any confrontations because this could be dangerous for you and your friend.
>Juthy Saha
