Myths about Stalking
JUST IGNORE IT, IT'LL GO AWAY
If you stop reacting to your stalker, it'll stop - they'll just get bored of it.
WRONG!
This is not necessarily the case. It is important to take action to stop the actions of the
stalker AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. The sooner action is taken, be it police caution/warning,
solicitors letter, arrest, the more chance it has of stopping. The legislation is there for
exactly this reason. Research has shown that those stalkers who are allowed to carry on,
are less likely to stop easily. It is important to nip it in the bud.
YOU SHOULD BE FLATTERED - I'D KEEP THE PRESENTS ETC...
People you know may try to make light of the situation and not take it as seriously as they
should.
WRONG!
You don't have to be flattered, you might be terrified. These comments are usually from
people who are ignorant about the subject and what it is like to be on the receiving end of
a stalker. Try to ignore comments that upset or anger you and gently educate these
people if they are members of your circle. You are not alone in your situation. Preserve
any presents/objects, letters you are suspicious of, and inform the police. Report ALL
incidents.
I JUST WANT TO TALK...MEET ME/TALK TO ME, THEN I'LL STOP WHAT I'M DOING
You might receive messages asking to meet with your stalker so that they will stop.
WRONG!
On no account must you agree to meet with your stalker or communicate with them in any
way. They are just feeding their obsession by controlling you and may give you false hope
that they will stop. It might put you in a dangerous situation from which you can't escape.
Please don't do it, don't be manipulated. Report incidents to the police. In addition, if you
have already involved the police, it will weaken any prosecution case against your stalker
simply because you have co-operated with the stalker.
YOU NEED THREE OF THE SAME INCIDENTS WITHIN A WEEK / NOTHING CAN BE
DONE
If you go to the police for help.
WRONG!
The Protection from Harassment Act 1997 is there to protect you. The evidence required
for the police to take action is 'on more than one occasion' - ie 2 incidents. They do NOT
need to be the same (ie; can be a phone call and being followed) but they do need to be
reasonably close together in time. The Act takes a test called the 'reasonable person test',
that is, if a reasonable person (consider members of a jury) deems what is happening to
you to be harassment then action can be taken. A police warning might be enough to stop
it, but the power is there for the police to arrest if necessary.
I DON'T WANT TO INVOLVE THE POLICE
Then nothing can be done.
WRONG!
The power of the ‘Protection from Harassment’ Act reaches into the civil law as well as the
criminal law. If you don't want to take action through the police, you can go to a solicitor
and obtain a Injunction under the Protection From Harassment Act through the civil courts,
although this will cost. If you feel that you are going to be harassed by someone (expartner, stalker coming out of prison) you are able to obtain an Injunction for an
Apprehended Breach - you are anticipating harassment to occur, and are using the civil
law to protect you before this happens.
A breach of Restraining Order/Injunction obtained either through the criminal OR civil
court is an arrestable offence and is liable for up to 5 years imprisonment.