This week is Stalking Awareness Week so we wanted to take this opportunity to remind you of the signs of stalking behaviour.
Stalking is classed as any behaviour from another person which is persistent, unwanted, and harassing and causes you any kind of fear or anxiety. Stalking is not a ‘one-off’ crime. It is a series of incidents which when taken in isolation can appear trivial, but when put together, they become more sinister.
Stalking can take place at home, online, at work or on a night out. Stalkers often use multiple methods of harassing their victims, but any such behaviour is illegal. In most cases, the victim will know the stalker however there have been cases where the victim does not know the offender.
Here are some examples of types of stalking:
- Unwanted or malicious communication
- Assault
- Unwanted attention from somebody seeking a romantic relationship
- Violent predatory behaviour
- Sending gifts which are unwanted
- Persistently following someone
- Repeatedly going uninvited to their home
- Monitoring someone’s use of the internet, email or other form of electronic communication
- Loitering somewhere frequented by the person
- Interfering with or damaging their property
- Watching or spying on someone
- Identity theft
Staying safe with the help of technology
Hollie Guard is a smartphone app that provides enhanced levels of protection. Hollie Guard offers extra security whether you’re working alone, travelling to an unknown area or commuting around town.
With Hollie Guard, you can set extra levels of protection from right inside the app. The 24/7 monitoring service provides direct access to a dedicated emergency response team who are fully equipped to assess your situation and are trained in appropriate escalation procedures.
You register your details and set up emergency contacts or multiple contacts in the app. Use someone you know who can react to your alert in an emergency. They will receive an SMS notification to highlight that you are in danger. In the event of having to use the app, simply shake your phone. If you choose, an alarm will begin sounding which can include flashing lights to ward off a perpetrator.
This will also send an alert to an emergency contact with a location of where the alert has been placed. In addition, audio and video of the incident begins immediately recording, which is stored in the Cloud, so even if the phone is stolen or disarmed, evidence is being collected.
You can find out more about the app here.
If you’re a resident and would like to speak to our Community Safety team, call us on 0300 123 1 567. A member of the team will be in touch with you within 24 hours. Alternatively, you can contact the National Stalking Helping on 0808 802 0300.
