"Many stalked teenagers have never seen their perpetrator" says Essex specialist
600,000 people fell victim to cyber-stalking in just one year, according to ONS statistics
A stalking specialist in Essex has said many teenage victims across the county "have never even seen their perpetrator", as cases of cyber-stalking increase.
According to ONS statistics, out of approximately 1.5 million stalking victims in the year ending March 2024, an estimated 635,000 (42%) reported that the stalking had involved online methods, like using electronic communications to threaten or harass.
Cyber-stalking or "digital stalking" can take the form of fake profiles on social media, stalking over the phone such as persistent phone calls, texts, or even hacking people's personal devices.
423,000 (28%) of victims in the year ending March 2024, were victims of domestic stalking, with 314,000 (21%) being stalked by a partner or ex-partner, and 141,000 (9%) being stalked by a family member.
Camille from Changing Pathways, an organisation providing support to victims in South Essex, says they are seeing cases rising.
"We believe this is not because stalking is more prevalent, but more that it was under reported previously. Now more victims are coming forward and that's likely to be because of media reports, podcasts, and TV shows such as Baby Reindeer" says Camille.
"We do still have a long way to go: only 1% of stalking cases recorded by the police result in prosecution by the CPS."
Stalking awareness week runs from 21st to 25th April 2025.
Essex police say it aims to highlight the importance of recognising the signs, knowing what to do, and understanding how they are helping to protect victims of stalking.
Detective Superintendent Dan Morrissey is the stalking lead for the force. He says:
"We understand how vital it is to focus on the perpetrators when dealing with stalking and harassment – it's never the victim's fault.
"Our Domestic Abuse Problem Solving Team (DAPST) is dedicated to targeting the most dangerous offenders in the county, using all our powers to get justice for victims.
"All our detectives are trained in the latest laws, like the Online Safety Act 2023.
"This helps us to catch malicious and intimidating behaviour, ensuring those responsible face justice. We use every available power to protect victims including Stalking Protection Orders (SPOs), which help prevent further harm.
Signs to look out for
Camille from Changing Pathways emphasises the signs to look out for: "We use the FOUR acronym - fixated, obsessive, unwanted and repeated."
If you or anyone you know are experiencing behaviours that suit these characteristics, Changing Pathways advise reaching out to police, or your local stalking organisations.
If you are in South Essex, you can contact Changing Pathways on their website here.