If you think that you are being followed DO • Try to stay calm. • Always carry a mobile phone. • Always carry a notepad and pen to record what is happening. If you see your stalker, at the next available safe opportunity, note down details, location, description of person, vehicle details, especially the registration number/make of car. Take a picture/video using your mobile phone. If necessary, call the police. • Vary your routine. We are all creatures of habit, and if they know you or have been watching you they will know your routine. Take different routes to work, shop in a different supermarket, meet friends in different social places, for example. Try and be unpredictable in terms of your patterns of behaviour. • Drive to the nearest police station/court house to seek assistance. If you feel in imminent physical danger, stop safely and use your mobile phone to dial 999. DON’T • Dismiss it and think you are being silly or over dramatic. Again, pay attention to your instinct and ensure you record what is happening and document the time and date, whilst it is fresh in your mind. • Confront your stalker or engage in ANY discussion with them. Security Measures You need to consider your home and work place in terms of security measures. In terms of your home you can ask for your local Crime Prevention Officer to visit and advise you on home security. Equally, over the last few years work place violence has increased and the work place is NOT a safe haven. So you need to take security measures at your work place, as well as in your personal life to maximise security. • Employer awareness – let them know what is happening to you. A good employer should initiate a file on what is happening to you, particularly if your stalker works at the same place. • Ensure they have a description of the stalker – get a photo if possible. • Ask your manager to handle all inquiries made about you, including phone calls, e-mails, faxes and visits or suspicious packages being sent. • Get permission to park your vehicle close to the building or in an area that is well lit. Further advice to reduce the risk of stalking • Limit the amount of personal information you put in the public domain. This includes on networking sites, the internet, phone book etc. • Consider obtaining a secure PO Box for your contact address. Details can be found on the Royal Mail website royalmail or by contacting them on 08457 950 950. An accompanying letter from the police will be required for your application. • It is possible to make sure your name and address do not appear on the electoral register. You can receive a certificate of anonymous registration. (But you do still have the choice to send this information through to credit reference agencies so you’ll still be able to get a credit rating.) However, to get a certificate of anonymous registration you will need a court order that is in force, or a qualified person to support your application. This registration lasts for one year and does not apply in Northern Ireland. See the notes in Section 8 of the application form. For more details go to aboutmyvote.co.uk. • Remove your name and address from any direct mail marketing lists by contacting the-Mailing Preference Service at Mailing Preference, (mpsonline.org.uk) Registration Line: 0845 703 4599. REMEMBER There is still limited knowledge, awareness and education about stalking, even though the problem is getting bigger. Many people and agencies, including law enforcement, still do not fully understand stalking and harassment behaviours and the risks. They may not understand how frightening it is when it is happening to you. Many will expect to see physical violence and think it is not so serious until this happens. However, a lot of the stalking behaviour is about coercive control and jealous surveillance i.e. psychological abuse/violence. This does not make it any less dangerous. Do not despair if you have not been satisfied with the initial police response. Keep trying to be heard.
Posted on: Tue, 08 Oct 2013 19:59:41 +0000