Stalking red flag warning signs to know as victims encouraged to come forward

Stalking is a serious crime, one that exhibits a series of subtle warning signs that can easily go unnoticed.

With National Stalking Awareness Week underway (April 22 -28), it's important to know how to stay safe. It comes as Police Scotland this week revealed that more than 661 stalking offences were reported last year, a rise from 613 in 2022.

Stalking has been a major topic of conversation recently thanks to the acclaimed Netflix drama Baby Reindeer which was released last week. The true story of Scottish comedian Richard Gadd's encounter with a woman who is worryingly obsessed with him is a harrowing reminder that it's not to be taken lightly.

It is widely believed that stalking is only reportable if an obvious threat to safety has been made, but this is not true. Stalking is a serious criminal offence, which is outlined under Section 39 of the Criminal Justice and Licensing Act (Scotland) 2010.

On stalking, the legislation defines it as: “An offence occurs when a person engages in a course of conduct on at least two separate occasions, which causes another person to feel fear or alarm, where the accused person intended, or knew or ought to have known, that their conduct would cause fear and alarm.”

In simpler terms, stalking occurs when a person intentionally targets another repeatedly that is unwanted by the victim, even if the behaviour is not harmful. Such acts may seem harmless if there are no obvious safety threats, but even seemingly innocent contact can cause intended fear and worry.

According to charity Action Against Stalking, it can be difficult to know if you’re a target for anti-social behaviour, harassment or are being stalked by someone. Behaviours can vary from what appears trivial to the obviously serious, but there are ways to figure out if you are a victim of stalking.

Here are the most common stalking patterns and behaviours and what to do if you feel that you may be a victim of stalking, as explained by Action Against Stalking.

How to recognise a stalking pattern

Stalking behaviours can often be identified by certain characteristics. A key question to ask is, are the actions of the person:

• Fixated

• Obsessive

• Unwanted

• Repeated

Common stalking behaviours

Stalkers seek to intimidate their targets through one or more of the following:

• Sending unwanted letters or cards

• Sending unwanted emails or text messages or posts on social media sites

• Making unwanted phone calls

• Delivering unwanted gifts to a workplace or home

• Waiting outside someone’s home or workplace

• Following someone or spying on them

• Sharing intimate pictures of them without their consent, for example by text, on a website, or on a social media site

• Posting information publicly about someone, making public accusations or contacting someone’s employer

• Making threats

The five most common types of talker

According to Action Against Stalking, there are five main stalking typologies, which include:

1. Rejected Stalker -Typically arises after the breakdown of an intimate relationship, although family members or others with whom the stalker once shared a close bond may also be targeted.

2. Resentful Stalker - Stalking arises when the stalker perceives mistreatment, humiliation, or injustice directed towards them. Their victims may be acquaintances or strangers.

3. Intimacy Seeker - The primary drive of an intimacy seeking stalker, who can range from stranger to acquaintance, is to forge an emotional bond and develop an intimate relationship with their target.

4. Incompetent Suitor - Stalks due to feelings of loneliness or lust. Unlike the Intimacy Seeker, their primary goal is not to forge a loving relationship, but rather to secure a date or engage in a short term sexual encounter.

5. Predatory Stalker - Arises within the realm of deviant sexual inclinations and interests. Typically the perpetrators are male and their victims are usually female strangers who become the subject of the stalker’s sexual fixation.

What to do if you are worried about a stalker

If you are worried that you may be the victim of stalking, Police Scotland wants people to know that they should not be afraid to file a report, as authorities take these seriously.

Police Scotland's detective Superintendent Gillian Faulds, lead for domestic abuse and stalking and harassment said: “The impact of stalking and harassment on victims can’t be underestimated. As well as causing fear and alarm, it impacts on how they live their lives, how safe they feel, how they act and how they react.

“When people feel able to report to us, we will listen. Information people share with us is vital in helping us put together that jigsaw of incidents and behaviours that taken together allows us to evidence stalking.

“Action Against Stalking advises keeping a log of incidents, and this can be very helpful for our investigations. We will assess the risk, put in place a safety plan and work with partners to ensure support is available.

“National Stalking Awareness Week is a reminder to us all of the impact of stalking and harassment and the importance of partnership in tackling this insidious abuse.”

If you or anyone you know is a victim of stalking and harassment then please contact Police Scotland on 101, or 999 in an emergency. You can also report online, or via a third party like Action Against Stalking.

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