Criminal Harassment or stalking is defined as conduct that is repeated and carried out over a period of time which makes a person fear for their safety or the safety of someone they know. Stalking is considered a crime in Canada and does not necessarily have to result in physical injury. In most cases of stalking, the stalker is known either from a past relationship, friendship or someone from the workplace. In cases where the victim is a stranger, the stalker believes that eventually the victim will fall in love with them, and believe that the victim loves them but cannot express their love because of an external influence.
“The Bureau of Justice Statistics defined stalking as a course of conduct, directed at a specific person on at least
…show more content…
What to do if you are being stalked
If you feel threatened or afraid for your safety you should call the police immediately. Keep a journal of the stalking incidents – dates, times, actions, and places as it will be easier to remember. Keep all messages, emails, gifts that you received from the individual and do not agree to have contact with the person.
Stalking in Canada
In 2009, there were over 20,000 cases of stalking reported in Canada, where three quarters of the victims were female. Stalking cases are higher in the east coast, Quebec having the largest percentage of cases, than the west coast.
We conducted a survey and 8% of the people surveyed stated that they were stalked in the work place and 19% stated that they were stalked in general.
Stalking is a serious crime and traumatic for the victim and their families. If you feel you are being stalked call the police immediately, while they may not be able to do anything right at that moment it is important that you make them aware of the situation so that they can investigate the incident further. Never be afraid to inform the police, no matter who is stalking