This week is National Stalking Awareness Week, an event organised by the UK’s personal safety charity the Suzy Lamplugh Trust.

This year’s theme is “join forces against stalking”, with the event taking place from 21 April until 25 April.

The Suzy Lamplugh Trust is aiming to educate people about the dangers of stalking. The charity says an increasing number of people aged 16 to 24 are contacting its helpline for support in dealing with unwanted behaviour.

A survey carried out by the charity last year found that 77% of respondents had experienced at least one repeated harmful behaviour due to stalking.

This increased to 84% among people from black, Asian, and minority ethnic backgrounds, and to 87 per cent among people who identified as female or non-binary.

The Suzy Lamplugh Trust defines stalking as “a pattern of fixated and obsessive behaviour which is repeated, persistent, intrusive and causes fear of violence or engenders alarm and distress in the victim”.

“Stalking can include many types of unwanted behaviour, online or in-person and will affect one in five women and one in 10 men in their lifetime,” the charity says.

“It can lead to feelings of depression, anxiety and even post-traumatic stress. It can be a psychological as well as a physical crime.”

The Southend, Essex, and Thurrock Domestic Abuse Board (SETDAB) are among the the various charities working in partnership to support the Suzy Lamplugh Trust’s National Stalking Week.

Andy Mariner and Nicky O’Shaughnessy, deputy chairs of SETDAB, said: “We want our communities to feel and be safe, stalking is a crime and we are working hard in partnership to tackle this serious issue. Across the partnership we are strengthening our response to incidents of stalking and improving our support for victims.

“Essex Police launched Stalking Intervention Panels to provide a multiagency approach to investigations, offering stronger protection to victims and the ability to progress stalking cases faster.

“Additional grant funding has increased the number of Independent Stalking Advocacy Caseworkers (ISACs) to support victims across Essex. By joining forces against stalking, we can create safer and more supportive environments for all of our residents.”

Throughout the week, events, workshops, and initiatives will take place, aimed at empowering individuals to recognise, report, and prevent stalking.

Advice for people affected by stalking – what to do

The Suzy Lamplugh Trust has previously published advice for people experiencing stalking behaviour:

+ Report behaviour to a social media platform’s support team and the police by calling 101. You can also call the Suzy Lamplugh Trust’s National Stalking Helpline on 0808 802 0300, Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 4pm (except Wednesday 9.30am to 8pm).

+ Make copies of all instances of stalking

Take screenshots or print pages of online abuse, making sure to include the profile’s information.

Cease contact with the stalker immediately

+ If you feel able to, stop communicating with the stalker immediately and call the National Stalking Helpline.

Check the privacy settings on your devices

Check the privacy settings on your phone and computer, as well as devices such as Airpods, Airtags, and Apple Wallets. If you suspect someone has accessed your devices, seek specialist help to capture the evidence before removing their access.

Check your social media settings

Check your social media settings (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok, for example) to see who can view your profile and posts, and who can contact you. Be aware that Instagram reels are publicly viewable even if your account is private.

Alert your friends and family

Let the people around you know that you are being stalked. Encourage them to check their own online security and to be careful about what they share about you online. Ask them to avoid engaging with your stalker.

Check your GPS settings on social media

Check your social media apps for their live location settings. Many social media platforms use GPS tracking to tag your location to posts and photos. BeReal and Snapchat use very accurate location sharing.

Avoid sharing personal information online

Avoid sharing information about your exact location or your home address online, even if you have a private account.

Be cautious when accepting friend requests

Accept friend requests from only people you know. If you receive a friend request from someone you don’t know, check to see if you have mutual friends with them.

Review your personal information

Review what personal information exists about you online and remove any unwanted information. Google yourself and see if you can find your address, phone number or other personal details.

Remove yourself from the public listing of the electoral register and ensure your phone number is ex-directory.