Stalking

Abstract

This article aims to clarify two issues relating to stalking: how potential victims perceive the crime and the prevalence of stalking and stalking-related acts among the British female population. Three hundred forty-eight women were invited to classify which of a range of intrusive behaviors were exemplars of stalking. They were then asked to indicate whether they had first-hand experience of any of these behaviors and, if so, to describe the worst episode. Of the sample, 24% reported at least one incident of stalking. The women held clear ideas on what they felt did and did not constitute stalking behaviors. Cluster analyses provided subtypes of stalking behaviors as perceived by respondents and subtypes of actual stalking as experienced by the sample. The findings suggest that a final legislative definition of stalking may not be necessary and that the high prevalence rate requires serious academic and legal attention.