What Is Stalking?
A stalker is any person who wilfully, maliciously, and repeatedly follows or harasses another person AND who makes a credible threat with the intent to place that person who is the target of the threat in reasonable fear for his or her safety, or the safety of his or her immediate family AND made with the apparent ability to carry out the threat.
Who Can Become A Victim?
ANYONE, regardless of race, creed, wealth, and religious sect.
Credible Threat
• A credible threat can be oral, written or implied by a pattern of conduct.
• It is a threat of bodily harm to a victim or a victim’s immediate family.
• I t does not include threats to take legal action, embarrass or ruin a victim’s reputation.
Specific Intent
• Specific Intent means to place the victim in fear for their personal safety or place the immediate family in fear for their safety.
• It is not necessary to prove intent to actually carry out the threat.
• Being in prison and continually making these threats is not a defence, and will mean a longer term in prison.
Note from: Dr. Mark D. Yates The British American Security Expert at www.closeprotectiongz.com
After conducting extensive training in counter stalking and stalkers modus operandi for close protection officers I suggest the following …
Types of stalkers
Erotomania Suspect usually knows the victim through the media only.
Approximately 5% of stalkers.
Love Obsessional Suspect usually loves or admires the victim, but no relationship has developed. 26% of stalkers.
Simple Obsessional Usually occurs after the break up of a relationship.
Most common form of stalking with 65%.
False Victimisation Syndrome Fictitious campaign of stalking or harassment developed by the victim. 2% of stalkers.
Statistics about Stalkers.
89% of people say Elvis is dead, 1% ask who he is, 6% say he’s still alive and 4% don’t know. God help us if we don’t know who is dead and who isn’t.
• 25% – 30% of people who stalk will harm their victim.
• 2% of people who stalk will kill the victim.
• Americans who are attacked run a 1 in 10,000 chance of being killed during the act of violence.
• Stalking Victims have a 1 in 50 chance of being killed in America.
The statistics show that the majority of stalking victims are women who are being stalked by men who wish to either re-establish or initiate a relationship with them. The women, in general, are outgoing and friendly (or at least perceived themselves as so prior to being stalked), are between the ages of 26-46 and have a higher educational background than the general public. The results also illustrate that men are also stalking victims with approximately 10% of the victims being male.
Not all stalkers seek a relationship, some are bent on revenge. The majority of stalking victims have experienced acts violent in nature. Usually damage to property, but not against the person. This intrusion into the victim’s lives leaves long term, damaging psychological effects.
What Can A Stalking Victim Do
• Do your best to safely avoid all contact with the stalker.
• Inform family, friends, and co-workers of what is going on in regard to the stalking.
• Report the stalking to the police and follow their advice.
• Keep an accurate journal or log of all incidents connected to the stalking.
• Keep all letters, packages, taped telephone messages, etc. received from the stalker.