Abstract
Previous research by the Modena Group on Stalking (MGS) regarding awareness and recognition of stalking by police officers and general practitioners using case scenarios showed significant differences across three countries. It was also hypothesized that victims used different pathways when seeking help. To explore the experience of requesting help by victims of stalking in different European countries a detailed survey was completed by 391 victims of stalking in Belgium (n = 145), Italy (n = 126) and Slovenia (n = 120). The research confirmed the significant intensity and duration of stalking and psychological distress for victims. Victims used several pathways to survive stalking. Some victims reported that informal interventions they or family/friends implemented were effective, but the majority had to have recourse to helping agencies. Significant differences in help seeking behaviour were found between the three countries. In Belgium victims contacted the police, as well as other helping agencies, more often and more precociously than in Italy and Slovenia. Restriction orders against the stalker were considered the most effective intervention. Police were regarded as the least supportive agency, taking victims less seriously, and not being particularly effective at stopping the stalkers. Police were ranked after family/friends, lawyers and colleagues, with regards effectiveness, except in Belgium, where Police’s effectiveness was ranked second after lawyers. Stalking often requires the mobilization of multiple helping agencies by victims and it is important that victims are aware of what help is available to them and that agencies become more sensitive to their needs.
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Acknowledgements
The study whose national data are reported here has been supported by a European Commission grant to project N° JAI 04-1/091/W “Pathways to survive stalking for women victims” conducted in the frame of the Daphne Program to prevent and combat violence against children, young people and women.
The study also received support by: Region Emilia Romagna, Province of Modena, Municipality of Modena and Italian Institute of Social Medicine.
The participation of the following researchers of the Modena Group on Stalking (MGS) in the conception and conduction of the research project is acknowledged:
Marcelo Aebi, Department de Ciència Politica i de Dret Pùblic, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain;
David James, Frank Farnham, Barnet, Enfield & Haringey, Mental Health NHS Trust, North London Forensic Service, United Kingdom;
Jan Henk Kamphuis, Paul Emmelkamp, Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands;
Salvatore Luberto, Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy;
Gorazd Meško, Faculty of Criminal Justice and Security, University of Maribor, Slovenia;
Chiara Sgarbi, Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy;
Geert Vervaeke, Leuven Institute of Criminology, Catholic University Leuven, Belgium;
The authors wish to thank Mansur Quraishi, MSc. and Ms Sarah Jones, for useful comments and stylistic revision of previous drafts of this paper.
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Galeazzi, G.M., Bučar-Ručman, A., DeFazio, L. et al. Experiences of Stalking Victims and Requests for Help in Three European Countries. A Survey. Eur J Crim Policy Res 15, 243–260 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10610-009-9102-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10610-009-9102-2