National Stalking Helpline

Original date 19/9/11

Today we have Kristiana from the National Stalking Helpline on the show.  Can you please tell me a little bit more about what you do?

The National Stalking Helpline exists to provide advice, information and support to anyone who has been affected by stalking or harassment issues, so that could be a loved one or the victim themselves.  We can give advice on criminal or civil legislation, sorry more guidance on the legislation, as we are not legal professionals and information about personal safety, about how to report to the police that kind of thing.

Oh wow, so there is quite a depth of things that you do cover?  Can I ask, obviously the helpline has not been in place very long.  Can I ask why the decision was made for it to be put in place?

Well, there was a lot of campaigning to put it into place because people felt that there needed to be somewhere where victims of stalking can go to get specialized information essentially.  A lady called Trisha Burnell who works with the Protection Against Stalking campaigned for the helpline and she said that her daughter Claire, who was murdered by her stalker wouldn’t have called the domestic violence helpline as she wouldn’t have seen herself the victim of domestic violence because she only dated Michael Pesch who ended up stalking her for a matter of weeks, but she may have called a stalking helpline because she was being stalked.

Aw, so unfortunately it is due to the tragedy of someone that she has all come into place?  So I think it is great what that lady has done to fight for this.  Fantastic.

I mean it is not just Trisha, it was also people like Tracy Morgan and Claire Verouqey, people who have been affected by stalking on a very deep level, as you said yourself personal trauma.

Yes, these people that have been through a loss have helped fight for it, it is great that other people can be helped.  I think it is a very very good thing to have.  Can I just ask, obviously these days there isn’t just sort of what we call “offline” stalking.  Do you ever have any calls about “online” stalking as well, things like social media and things like that?

Absolutely, online stalking is a huge problem for people, or cyber stalking as sometimes its commonly known.  In terms of Facebook or malicious e-mails, people sending fake profiles, creating fake profiles or contacting people that the victim knows online purporting to be them, that certainly is a big problem for many people.

What would you advise somebody to do if they think they are being stalked?

I would say to tell them once that you don’t want anymore contact from them and after that don’t respond to them any further.  Keep any evidence that you can and report the matter to the police taking with you all your evidence.  Ask them to look at all the incidents together rather than each incident individually so that they can view what is happening as what is known as a “course of conduct” so some things that amount to harassment.  If you are not sure whether you are being stalked then please give the helpline a ring or e-mail us.  Our number is 0300 636 0300 or you can e-mail advice@stalkinghelpline.org and if you would like some emotional support, perhaps you have been affected by stalking in the past or you would like to speak to people who perhaps are in similar situations to you, then the Stalking Helpline also runs an online forum for people to provide clear support to victims of stalking.

Well, that is great because it might be that somebody that didn’t quite have the confidence to ring your helpline can get support there with other people that have been through the same. 

Absolutely.

Well, I think it is great what you are doing so thank you so much for coming to talk to us today.  It has been fantastic.

You are very welcome.  Thank you for having me.