In everyday life, people often joke about "stalking" someone on social media or describe someone's behavior as a bit "stalky." But these casual uses of the word can blur the reality of stalking as a serious crime.
According to the Crime Survey for England and Wales, around 1.4 million people age 16 and older experienced stalking in the year ending March 2025. Yet our recent research suggests young people might not recognize what stalking is, particularly when it comes from someone they know.
Stalking features in many domestic abuse cases, and it is often present in the lead-up to domestic homicide. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has reported record levels of stalking offenses being charged. The increase in cases is partly due to better awareness of what stalking is.
The legal landscape around stalking is at a moment of change, with new protections, a review of how police respond to cases, and a stalking action plan underway within the CPS to enhance the identification of stalking cases.
Why is stalking often misunderstood?
