Stalking is a crime in the ACT. A person who stalks another person with the intent to harass, cause apprehension, fear or harm in the person they are stalking – or someone else – can be charged with a stalking offence. Stalking involves any of these forms of intent and boundary violations where the offender, on two or more occasions:

• follows or approaches their victim.
• loiters near the victim, watches, approaches or enters the victims home or workplace or other location.
• keeps the victim under surveillance.
• interferes with property in the possession of the victim
• gives or sends offensive material to the victim or leaves offensive material where it is likely to be found or bought to their victims attention.
• Telephones, send electronic messages to or otherwise contacts the victim.
• Sends electronic messages about the victim to anybody else.
• Makes electronic messages about the stalked person available to anybody else.
• Acts covertly in a way that could reasonably be expected to arouse apprehension or fear in their victim.
• Engages in conducting amounting to intimidation, harassment or molestation of the victim.

(See Crimes Act 1900, Part 2 Offences Against the Person, Section 35, R83-Effective 24/4/2013, pp 18-19)

Stalking can produce an intense amount of fear in the person being stalked. If you are experiencing stalking, it is important to know that help is available.

Please do not hesitate to contact the police on 000 if you are concerned about your immediate safety.

Contact the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre on 6247 2525 to use the crisis line for support and to access counselling services.