Extent and Nature of Stalking: Findings From the 1998 British Crime Survey

• NCJ Number: 187192
• Author(s): Tracey Budd; Joanna Mattinson
• Date Published: 2000
• Length: 142 pages
• Corporate Author: Great Britain Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate
• Sale Source: Great Britain Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate
• Publication Format: Book (Softbound)
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom
• Note: Home Office Research Study 210

Annotation

This report presents findings on stalking from an innovative self-completion questionnaire included in the 1998 British Crime Survey; information is provided on the prevalence of stalking, those most at risk of being stalked, and types of stalking behavior.

Abstract

Overall, 11.8 percent of adults aged 16 to 59 could recall being subjected to "persistent and unwanted attention" (definition of stalking) at some time in their lives. The figure was higher for women (16.1 percent) than men (6.8 percent). A total of 2.9 percent of adults aged 16 to 59 had been the subject of stalking in the 12 months prior to the interview. Young women (ages 16 to 24) were particularly at risk. Risks were high among women who were single, students, living in privately rented accommodation, living in a flat or maisonette, and living in a lower income household. The majority of incidents (79 percent) involved only one perpetrator. Incidents against male victims were more likely to have involved more than one offender. Overall, 81 percent of the incidents reported to the survey were perpetrated by men. In 29 percent of incidents, the perpetrator had an intimate relationship with the victim at the beginning of the incident. Strangers were responsible in 34 percent of incidents. In approximately one-third of the cases reported to the survey, the persistent and unwanted attention lasted less than one month, and in an additional quarter (26 percent) between one and three months; however, for approximately 19 percent, the stalking lasted for a year or more. There were no differences between male and female victims. The most common experience of stalking was being forced into talking to the offender. Other relatively common experiences were silent phone calls, being physically intimidated, being followed, being touched or grabbed, and waiting outside the victim's home. Ninety-two percent of victims reported they were "very" or "fairly" annoyed/irritated by their experience. One-third of victims considered the stalking to be a crime, and 37 percent considered it to be "wrong but not a crime." Thirty-three percent of victims reported that the police were aware of their most recent episode of stalking. Extensive tables and figures, 37 references, and appended survey design and questionnaire