Dr Catrin Williams introduces The Indictable Podcast’s seven-part stalking miniseries, beginning with a clear overview of what stalking is, how common it is, and why it matters. In England and Wales, an estimated 2.5 million people experience stalking each year. Rates are higher among women, younger individuals, and those who are divorced or separated. Stalking is most often perpetrated by someone known to the victim and frequently involves the use of technology. Despite this, it remains widely underreported. Stalking is defined as a repeated pattern of unwanted behaviour that causes distress or fear. It can be difficult to recognise, particularly as it often overlaps with coercive control and domestic abuse. Dr Williams outlines how stalking is assessed in practice, focusing on building a full picture of the relationship context, the impact on the victim, and the motivations and fixations of the perpetrator. The episode also introduces key legislation in England and Wales, including: Protection from Harassment Act 1997 Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 Stalking Protection Act 2020 Civil and criminal responses are discussed, including Stalking Protection Orders (SPOs), which can include both restrictions and positive requirements. Finally, the episode introduces a biopsychosocial understanding of stalking behaviour, including attachment theory and relational goal pursuit, and previews Mullen’s five stalking typologies explored across the series: Rejected Intimacy seeker Incompetent suitor Resentful Predatory Who was talking? Dr Catrin Williams (Forensic Psychologist) List of Topics Covered What stalking is and how it presents Who is most at risk and how common it is Links with coercive control and domestic abuse How stalking is assessed and understood psychologically Overview of UK legislation and stalking typologies References and Reading Please see the references available on the BPS website that have been utilised for this episode here: https://explore.bps.org.uk/content/report-guideline/bpsrep.2022.rep169/back-matter/bpsrep.2022.rep169.13 Dressing, H., Gass, P., Schultz, K., & Keuher, C. (2020). The prevalence and effects of stalking: A replication study. Deutsches Ärzteblatt International, 117(20), 346–363. Dutton, M. A., & Goodman, L. A. (2005). Coercion in intimate partner violence: Toward a new conceptualization. Sex Roles, 52(11–12), 743–756. Engel, G. L. (1980). The clinical application of the biopsychosocial model. American Journal of Psychiatry, 137(5), 535–544. https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.137.5.535 Leigh, S., & Davies, J. (2021). A rapid evidence assessment of psychological treatment approaches for stalking behaviour. Journal of Forensic Practice. MacKenzie, R. D., McEwan, T. E., Pathé, M. T., James, D., Ogloff, J. R. P., & Mullen, P. E. (2009). Stalking risk profile: Guidelines for the assessment and management of stalkers (1st ed.). StalkInc & Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science, Monash University. McEwan, T. E., Simmons, M., Clothier, T., & Senkans, S. (2020). Measuring stalking: The development and evaluation of the Stalking Assessment Indices (SAI). Psychiatry, Psychology and Law. https://doi.org/10.1080/13218719.2020.1787904 Mohandie, K., Meloy, J. R., McGowan, M. G., & Williams, J. (2006). The RECON typology of stalking: Reliability and validity based upon a large sample of North American stalkers. Journal of Forensic Sciences, 51, 147–155. Mullen, P.E., Pathé, M., Purcell, R. & Stuart, G.W. (1999). Study of stalkers. American Journal of Psychiatry, 156(8), 1244–1249. https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.156.8.1244 Office for National Statistics. (2018). Crime statistics. https://www.ons.gov.uk Office for National Statistics. (2024). “I feel like I am living someone else’s life”: One in seven people a victim of stalking.https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/articles/ifeellikeiamlivingsomeoneelseslifeoneinsevenpeopleavictimofstalking/2024-09-26 Purcell, R., & McEwan, T. (2018). Treatment approaches for stalking. In C. Ireland, J. Ireland, & P. Birch (Eds.), Violent and sexual offenders: Assessment, treatment and management (pp. 428–444). Routledge. Purcell, R., Pathé, M., & Mullen, P. E. (2004). When do repeated intrusions become stalking? Journal of Forensic Psychiatry & Psychology, 15, 571–583. Scott, A. J., Lloyd, R., & Gavin, J. (2010). The influence of prior relationship on perceptions of stalking in the United Kingdom and Australia. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 37, 1185–1194. Sheridan, L. P., & James, D. V. (2015). Complaints of group-stalking (‘gang-stalking’): An exploratory study of their nature and impact on complainants. Journal of Forensic Psychiatry & Psychology, 26(5), 601–623. Stark, E. (2013). Coercive control. In Violence against women: Current theory and practice in domestic abuse, sexual violence and exploitation (pp. 17–33). Suzy Lamplugh Trust. (2018). Out of sight, out of mind: Two years on. https://www.suzylamplugh.org U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics. (2019). Stalking victimization, 2019.https://bjs.ojp.gov/library/publications/stalking-victimization-2019 Content warnings and Disclaimer This episode discusses stalking, including patterns of unwanted behaviour, coercive control, and the psychological impact on victims. Some listeners may find this content distressing. Please take care while listening and consider accessing support if needed. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host and guests and do not represent the official positions of any organisation or professional body. This podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only and should not be taken as psychological advice or a substitute for professional consultation. While efforts are made to ensure the accuracy of information shared, psychological concepts and case details are simplified for discussion. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or deceased, is purely coincidental unless explicitly stated. The hosts and guests will never discuss any details of individual cases or locations that they have personally worked with or within. Vague personal and professional experiences may be shared as part of discussions, but considerable details will have been changed to ensure that there is no identifiable information to ensure anonymity and confidentiality. There will be no discussion on any current or ongoing cases in the United Kingdom, not any cases from the United Kingdom unless they are historical and fully resolved. All discussions adhere to HCPC and BPS ethical guidelines regarding confidentiality, professional boundaries and responsible communication of psychological information. Listener discretion is advice, as some topics may contain descriptions of violence trauma and other sensitive content. Get in touch at indictablepodcast@gmail.com Where to find me! (Please follow x) @indictablepodcast on Instagram, Tiktok and Facebook www.indictablepodcast.com
