A form of abuse, stalking can go under the radar and, in some cases, dozens of incidents will occur before a victim feels confident to report it to the authorities.
Raising awareness of stalking
As Housing and Community Safety Officers at Radian Group, we are often contacted by customers reporting harassment. While ‘harassment’ means different things to different people, it is important that we are vigilant to the cases where this could in fact be the distinct offense of stalking. We are aware that figures suggest around one in five women and one in ten men will experience stalking in their lifetime, so we are always on the lookout for signs of behaviour which might indicate stalking.
Defining stalking can be difficult because it varies widely between cases, but Victim Support defines it as: ‘persistent and unwanted attention that makes you feel pestered and harassed. It includes behaviour that happens two or more times, directed at or towards you by another person, which causes you to feel alarmed or distressed or to fear that violence might be used against you.’
A form of abuse, stalking can go under the radar and, in some cases, dozens of incidents will occur before a victim feels confident to report it to the authorities. We know how serious stalking can be so we stay alert to any signs of it taking place and are keen to support anyone suffering from this crim.
We understand that stalkers do not fit one description. They are not always an intimate partner, they can be a stranger, friend or colleague, and we see cases of it across both anti-social behaviour and domestic abuse, though it is more common in the latter.
Partnership working
One of the key things that we always try and do to support someone who feels they are being stalked is connect them to services that can provide specialist help. We have cultivated great relationships with partner agencies across our geography which enables us to signpost victims of any form of abuse to the correct people. Connecting at-risk and vulnerable customers to the right place is absolutely essential and we work closely with the individual to understand what is happening in their life.
To ensure that there is a record of any incidents, we always encourage the person in question to formally log their concerns with the police at the earliest opportunity. If there has been an incident of domestic abuse we also complete a referral to one of our external partners, including Southern Domestic Abuse Service, Stop Domestic Abuse and the DASH Charity. We are proud to be accredited for our work to support residents experiencing domestic abuse and anti-social behaviour, and by working with our partners we are better able to protect vulnerable people and work alongside specialists who can provide tailored advice and support.
We think it’s really important for our customers to know about services such as the Paladin stalking advocacy service, and the National Stalking Helpline. We also take full advantage of our access to the Victim Support service to provide one-to-one support for anyone who is suffering as a result of any criminal or anti-social behaviour, including stalking.
Action as a housing provider
If we are concerned about our customers being at immediate risk of harm, we will always explore, in consultation with the resident, what the options available are to us as a housing provider. By being the person’s ‘landlord’ we are often able to install additional security measures to a home, at no extra cost to the resident, such as fire-proof letterboxes and more locks. This action is taken in consultation with the resident. In extreme cases where we have significant safety concerns, we can also work with our partners to explore re-housing our residents away from the place where they have been at risk.
We are also prepared to respond to incidents where a person living in one of our properties might commit a serious offence such as stalking. If this occurred we would consider how this breaches their tenancy agreement and access whether it is necessary, for the safety of other residents, to take legal action.
Keeping people safe is always our top priority. If you are concerned about any of the issues mentioned in this blog and would like some advice, please don’t hesitate to contact us.