A
anony
Guest
In recent years, stalking has increasingly been recognised as a social and legal problem. In England and Wales, the Protection from Harassment Act was introduced in 1997 to enable the criminal justice system to deal more effectively with cases of stalking and harassment. Despite this there has been relatively little research conducted to assess the extent or nature of the problem.
This report defines stalking as experiences of persistent and unwanted attention. It presents the findings from an innovative self-completion questionnaire included in the 1998 British Crime Survey. The report provides the first reliable, national level data on how frequently stalking occurs. It also identifies those most at risk and what types of behaviour victims are subjected to.
The 1998 British Crime Survey included an innovative computerised self-completion questionnaire designed to provide the first reliable measure of the extent of ‘stalking’ in England and Wales. A nationally representative sample of 9,988 16 - to - 59 year-olds were asked whether they had been subject to ‘persistent and unwanted attention’ during their lifetime and during the preceding year. Those who had been subject to such incidents were asked details about their experience. The questionnaire was deliberately designed to capture a wide range of experiences that could potentially be regarded as incidents of stalking.
The extent of stalking
Overall, 11.8 per cent of adults aged 16 to 59 could recall being subject to persistent and unwanted attention at some time in their lives. The figure was higher for women (16.1%) than men (6.8%). Three-quarters of those identified as being subject to persistent and unwanted attention were women.2.9 per cent of adults aged 16 to 59 had been the subject of stalking in the 12months prior to the interview. This equates to almost 0.9 million adults in England and Wales experiencing at least one episode of stalking during the previous year (0.61 million women and 0.27 million men had been victims).
These figures are based on a very broad definition of stalking – ‘persistent and unwanted attention’ – which captures a wide range of experiences.
The victims
Women were twice as likely as men to have experienced any persistent and unwanted attention in the last year (4.0% compared to 1.7%).Young women were particularly at risk. 16.8 per cent of women aged 16 to19 and 7.8 per cent of those aged 20 to 24 recalled being subject to persistent and unwanted attention during the previous year. Risks were also high among women who were single students living in privately rented accommodation, living in a flat or maisonette, or living in a lower income household. The nature of incidents experienced by men and women differed somewhat. Key results are discussed below.
The offenders
The majority (79%) of incidents involved only one perpetrator. Incidents against male victims were more likely to have involved more than one offender. Overall, eight in ten (81%) incidents reported to the survey were perpetrated by men. Male offenders were involved in 90 per cent of incidents against women, and 57 per cent of incidents against men. In 29 per cent of incidents the perpetrator had an intimate relationship with the victim (current or former spouse, partner, girl/boyfriend or date) at the beginning of the incident. Strangers were responsible in 34 per cent of incidents. The remaining incidents involved close friends, relatives, household members or acquaintances.
Women were significantly more likely to be stalked by a stranger than male victims Female victims were most likely to believe the perpetrator of the persistent and unwanted attention wanted to start or continue a relationship with them. Male victims were most likely to say the offender wished to annoy or upset them. The relatively high proportion of incidents against men perpetrated by men is particularly interesting. The majority of such incidents were committed by strangers (42%), though five per cent were carried out by a current or former partner. The most common reason given for male on male incidents was that the offender wished to upset or annoy the victim.
Experiences of stalking
In about a third of cases reported to the survey the persistent and unwanted attention lasted less than a month, and in a further quarter (26%) between one and three months. However, for around one in five victims (19%) the persistent and unwanted attention lasted for a year or more. There were no differences between male and female victims.
Experiences of persistent and unwanted attention were wide ranging. The most common experience was being forced into talking to the offender, with almost a half of all incidents (49%) involving this. Other relatively common experiences, reported in a third or more of incidents, were:
silent phone calls (45%)
being physically intimidated (42%)
being followed (39%)
being touched or grabbed (34%)
the offender waiting outside the victim’s home (33%).
Female victims were more likely to experience almost all of the types of stalking behaviour asked about. However, male victims were more likely to say the offender had threatened or actually used violence.
The vast majority (78%) of victims had experienced more than one type of behaviour during their most recent episode. About a half of victims had been subjected to between two and five distinct types of behaviour and a further third to six or more. Women tended to experience more types of behaviour than men.
Impact upon the victims
Ninety-two per cent of victims said they were very or fairly annoyed/irritated by their experience. Levels of distress or upset were lower, but still 75 per cent had found the experience very or fairly distressing/upsetting. Women were particularly likely to have been distressed or upset by their experience. Seventy-one per cent of those who had been the subject of persistent and unwanted attention said they had changed their behaviour in at least one of three ways:
59% had avoided certain places or people
35% went out less than they had previously
42% started taking additional personal security measures.
Seventy-six per cent of women had taken at least one of these measures compared to 59 per cent of men. Almost a third (31%) of victims were very or fairly afraid that violence would be used against them. A similar proportion (27%) were afraid violence would be used against a friend, relative or someone else they knew. Victims were less likely to fear a sexual offence, though 17 per cent did so.
Seeking help
One-third of victims (33%) considered what had happened to be a crime and a further 37 per cent considered it to be ‘wrong but not a crime’. A quarter felt it to be ‘just something that happens’.
Thirty-three per cent of victims said the POLICE WERE AWARE of their most recent episode of persistent and unwanted attention. Sixty-one per cent of victims who reported the incident said they were satisfied with the way the police handled the matter. There were few differences between male and female victims. Four-fifths of victims (82%) stated they had told someone. Over half (55%) of all victims had told their spouse, partner, boyfriend or girlfriend, 72 per cent had confided in a friend, relative or neighbour, eight per cent had informed a doctor, social worker or carer. Women were more likely to tell someone about their experiences than men.
http://www.crimereduction.gov.uk/stalking.htm
This report defines stalking as experiences of persistent and unwanted attention. It presents the findings from an innovative self-completion questionnaire included in the 1998 British Crime Survey. The report provides the first reliable, national level data on how frequently stalking occurs. It also identifies those most at risk and what types of behaviour victims are subjected to.
The 1998 British Crime Survey included an innovative computerised self-completion questionnaire designed to provide the first reliable measure of the extent of ‘stalking’ in England and Wales. A nationally representative sample of 9,988 16 - to - 59 year-olds were asked whether they had been subject to ‘persistent and unwanted attention’ during their lifetime and during the preceding year. Those who had been subject to such incidents were asked details about their experience. The questionnaire was deliberately designed to capture a wide range of experiences that could potentially be regarded as incidents of stalking.
The extent of stalking
Overall, 11.8 per cent of adults aged 16 to 59 could recall being subject to persistent and unwanted attention at some time in their lives. The figure was higher for women (16.1%) than men (6.8%). Three-quarters of those identified as being subject to persistent and unwanted attention were women.2.9 per cent of adults aged 16 to 59 had been the subject of stalking in the 12months prior to the interview. This equates to almost 0.9 million adults in England and Wales experiencing at least one episode of stalking during the previous year (0.61 million women and 0.27 million men had been victims).
These figures are based on a very broad definition of stalking – ‘persistent and unwanted attention’ – which captures a wide range of experiences.
The victims
Women were twice as likely as men to have experienced any persistent and unwanted attention in the last year (4.0% compared to 1.7%).Young women were particularly at risk. 16.8 per cent of women aged 16 to19 and 7.8 per cent of those aged 20 to 24 recalled being subject to persistent and unwanted attention during the previous year. Risks were also high among women who were single students living in privately rented accommodation, living in a flat or maisonette, or living in a lower income household. The nature of incidents experienced by men and women differed somewhat. Key results are discussed below.
The offenders
The majority (79%) of incidents involved only one perpetrator. Incidents against male victims were more likely to have involved more than one offender. Overall, eight in ten (81%) incidents reported to the survey were perpetrated by men. Male offenders were involved in 90 per cent of incidents against women, and 57 per cent of incidents against men. In 29 per cent of incidents the perpetrator had an intimate relationship with the victim (current or former spouse, partner, girl/boyfriend or date) at the beginning of the incident. Strangers were responsible in 34 per cent of incidents. The remaining incidents involved close friends, relatives, household members or acquaintances.
Women were significantly more likely to be stalked by a stranger than male victims Female victims were most likely to believe the perpetrator of the persistent and unwanted attention wanted to start or continue a relationship with them. Male victims were most likely to say the offender wished to annoy or upset them. The relatively high proportion of incidents against men perpetrated by men is particularly interesting. The majority of such incidents were committed by strangers (42%), though five per cent were carried out by a current or former partner. The most common reason given for male on male incidents was that the offender wished to upset or annoy the victim.
Experiences of stalking
In about a third of cases reported to the survey the persistent and unwanted attention lasted less than a month, and in a further quarter (26%) between one and three months. However, for around one in five victims (19%) the persistent and unwanted attention lasted for a year or more. There were no differences between male and female victims.
Experiences of persistent and unwanted attention were wide ranging. The most common experience was being forced into talking to the offender, with almost a half of all incidents (49%) involving this. Other relatively common experiences, reported in a third or more of incidents, were:
silent phone calls (45%)
being physically intimidated (42%)
being followed (39%)
being touched or grabbed (34%)
the offender waiting outside the victim’s home (33%).
Female victims were more likely to experience almost all of the types of stalking behaviour asked about. However, male victims were more likely to say the offender had threatened or actually used violence.
The vast majority (78%) of victims had experienced more than one type of behaviour during their most recent episode. About a half of victims had been subjected to between two and five distinct types of behaviour and a further third to six or more. Women tended to experience more types of behaviour than men.
Impact upon the victims
Ninety-two per cent of victims said they were very or fairly annoyed/irritated by their experience. Levels of distress or upset were lower, but still 75 per cent had found the experience very or fairly distressing/upsetting. Women were particularly likely to have been distressed or upset by their experience. Seventy-one per cent of those who had been the subject of persistent and unwanted attention said they had changed their behaviour in at least one of three ways:
59% had avoided certain places or people
35% went out less than they had previously
42% started taking additional personal security measures.
Seventy-six per cent of women had taken at least one of these measures compared to 59 per cent of men. Almost a third (31%) of victims were very or fairly afraid that violence would be used against them. A similar proportion (27%) were afraid violence would be used against a friend, relative or someone else they knew. Victims were less likely to fear a sexual offence, though 17 per cent did so.
Seeking help
One-third of victims (33%) considered what had happened to be a crime and a further 37 per cent considered it to be ‘wrong but not a crime’. A quarter felt it to be ‘just something that happens’.
Thirty-three per cent of victims said the POLICE WERE AWARE of their most recent episode of persistent and unwanted attention. Sixty-one per cent of victims who reported the incident said they were satisfied with the way the police handled the matter. There were few differences between male and female victims. Four-fifths of victims (82%) stated they had told someone. Over half (55%) of all victims had told their spouse, partner, boyfriend or girlfriend, 72 per cent had confided in a friend, relative or neighbour, eight per cent had informed a doctor, social worker or carer. Women were more likely to tell someone about their experiences than men.
http://www.crimereduction.gov.uk/stalking.htm
