This Stalking Awareness Week, Weaver Vale Housing Trust’s Safeguarding Practitioner, Carol Miller, makes a powerful argument for why we need to take the humour out of the word “stalking”

Everyone deserves to be protected from violence, abuse and harassment. Stalking is a sinister and dangerous crime that has a drastic impact on the wellbeing of victims.

Stalking has unfortunately been on the rise during the pandemic. Statistics show more than 80,000 stalking offences were recorded in England and Wales in 2020 – in certain parts of the country that’s a 200 per cent increase.

This week, national personal safety charity the Suzy Lamplugh Trust marks National Stalking Awareness Week (25-29 April) as it does every year in a bid to raise awareness around a specific issue relating to stalking.

It’s got me thinking about how, as a society, we need to take the humour out of the word “stalking”.

I’ve seen the phrase being used in a dismissive manner or as a joke on social media – just do a quick search on Twitter and you’ll find hundreds of examples.

It’s been used by some news outlets who refer to how they are “stalking” celebrities. I’ve also heard people talk about how they are “stalking” colleagues on Microsoft Teams to see if they are online or not.

When we misuse the term in this way, we are actively reducing understanding and appreciation of the seriousness of the situation when someone is actually being stalked.

As a society over the past few years, we’ve adapted our use of language around important issues such as mental health, sexuality and gender identification to discuss them with the sensitivity they deserve.

It makes me wonder why we can’t do the same when it comes to this issue.

It is not a term we should be using frivolously or thoughtlessly.

Stalking and harassment is when someone repeatedly behaves in a way that makes you feel scared, distressed or threatened.

There are different types of stalking and harassment, and anyone can be a victim – it is a crime.

Behaviour typical of stalking could include following the victim, turning up at their place of work or at their home, unwanted calls, texts and communication via social media.

Stalking advocacy charity Paladin says one in two stalkers carry out their threats of violence and abuse. Research for the Suzy Lamplugh Trust from the University of Gloucester shows nine out of ten murders of women by men are linked to stalking behaviours.

I believe we need to take a trauma informed approach to the language we are using and consider the impact of misusing language around what is in fact a crime – instead of undermining the seriousness of stalking.

Let’s start by working together during Stalking Awareness Week to increase understanding of what stalking is and the devastating impact it can have on the lives of victims to help reduce misappropriation of this term.

Find out more about Stalking Awareness Week at: https://www.suzylamplugh.org/news/national-stalking-awareness-week-2022