Gloucestershire charity says the more awareness about stalking the better
Nick Gazzard set up the Hollie Gazzard Trust after his daughter Hollie was murdered by her ex
A Gloucestershire charity says not enough people know what is classed as stalking and that more awareness needs to be raised.
It’s after the office for national statistics found one in seven people aged 16 years and over in England and Wales has been a victim of stalking at least once.
Women and younger people were also found to be the most affected.
Stalking can take many forms and has a devastating and long-lasting impact on people’s lives.
Stalking can be defined as two or more incidents causing distress, fear, or alarm, including:
• receiving obscene or threatening unwanted letters, emails, text messages or phone calls
• having obscene or threatening information about them placed on the internet
• a person waiting or loitering around their home or workplace
• being followed or watched
The Hollie Gazzard Trust was set up back in 2014 by Nick Gazzard after his daughter Hollie was murdered at her place of work by her ex after months of obsessive behaviour, jealousy, and harassment.
The charity now works to end violence against women and girls and help those experiencing domestic abuse and to promote healthy relationships, while providing education in schools and colleges.
Jane Harvey, works for the charity and was previously the stalking advocate for high-risk victims in Gloucestershire.
She told Greatest Hits Radio: “I’ve spoken to hundreds and hundreds of stalking victims.
“A very very high percentage of them took quite some time to realise what was happening to them was stalking.”
Jane said people who stalk can be very fixated and obsessed, she gave some advice on how to deal with this:
“Blocking their phone number or stopping them contacting you is really not likely to make them stop thinking like that towards you.
“So we would never advise people to block a stalker because it can lead to their behaviour escalating.
“If you are being subjected to fixated and obsessive behaviour, the person knows you don’t want it and they won’t leave you alone.
“Then really take it seriously don’t try and ignore it; the police are the best agency.”
If you’re affected by issues raised in this article, there is help available from your local domestic abuse service at www.womensaid.org.uk or you can visit the Hollie Gazzard Trust here.