Stalking involves repeated unwanted communication, harassment, and intrusive behaviour. This brief report draws on a service evaluation undertaken immediately prior to and during the 2020 COVID-19 crisis. The pandemic creates a paradox when considering safety in the home, but it is important to recognise the dangers this presents to many victims of stalking. The information presented in this report is based on existing literature and early evidence from semi-structured interviews and discussions with 15 victims and six practitioners. Whilst lockdown measures might appear to be a time when victims are less accessible to their stalkers, early evidence from this study suggests that their vulnerability is increased. Technology has helped to facilitate stalking behaviours by providing stalkers with new approaches to control, humiliate, threaten and isolate their victims. Some lockdown restrictions have provided increased opportunities for stalkers to monitor their victims and the professional uncertainty and recognition around stalking has continued, coupled with delays in the criminal justice system. The COVID-19 crisis has reversed gains made by stalking victims and has imprisoned some victims in their homes making their whereabouts easier to monitor. Stalking behaviour has not ceased as a result of the COVID-19 restrictions and the risk of harm to victims remains significant. Effective practice, policy and legal responses are required for both the victims and perpetrators of stalking during the pandemic and afterwards.

缠扰行为包括重复的不受欢迎的交流、骚扰和侵入性行为。这份简短的报告借鉴了 2020 年 COVID-19 危机之前和期间进行的服务评估。在考虑家庭安全时，这种流行病造成了一个悖论，但重要的是要认识到这对许多被跟踪的受害者带来的危险。本报告中提供的信息基于现有文献和来自半结构化访谈和与 15 名受害者和 6 名从业者的讨论的早期证据。虽然锁定措施似乎是受害者不太容易接触到他们的缠扰者的时候，但这项研究的早期证据表明他们的脆弱性增加了。技术通过为缠扰者提供控制、羞辱、威胁和孤立他们的受害者。一些封锁限制为缠扰者提供了更多监控受害者的机会，围绕缠扰行为的职业不确定性和认可度仍在继续，同时刑事司法系统出现延误。COVID-19 危机扭转了跟踪受害者所取得的成果，并将一些受害者关在家里，使他们的行踪更容易监控。由于 COVID-19 的限制，跟踪行为并未停止，对受害者造成伤害的风险仍然很大。大流行期间和之后的缠扰行为的受害者和肇事者都需要有效的实践、政策和法律回应。一些封锁限制为缠扰者提供了更多监控受害者的机会，围绕缠扰行为的职业不确定性和认可度仍在继续，同时刑事司法系统出现延误。COVID-19 危机扭转了跟踪受害者所取得的成果，并将一些受害者关在家里，使他们的行踪更容易监控。由于 COVID-19 的限制，跟踪行为并未停止，对受害者造成伤害的风险仍然很大。大流行期间和之后的缠扰行为的受害者和肇事者都需要有效的实践、政策和法律回应。一些封锁限制为缠扰者提供了更多监控受害者的机会，围绕缠扰行为的职业不确定性和认可度仍在继续，同时刑事司法系统出现延误。COVID-19 危机扭转了跟踪受害者所取得的成果，并将一些受害者关在家里，使他们的行踪更容易监控。由于 COVID-19 的限制，跟踪行为并未停止，对受害者造成伤害的风险仍然很大。大流行期间和之后的缠扰行为的受害者和肇事者都需要有效的实践、政策和法律回应。COVID-19 危机扭转了跟踪受害者所取得的成果，并将一些受害者关押在家中，使他们的行踪更容易监控。由于 COVID-19 的限制，跟踪行为并未停止，对受害者造成伤害的风险仍然很大。大流行期间和之后的缠扰行为的受害者和肇事者都需要有效的实践、政策和法律回应。COVID-19 危机扭转了跟踪受害者所取得的成果，并将一些受害者关在家里，使他们的行踪更容易监控。由于 COVID-19 的限制，跟踪行为并未停止，对受害者造成伤害的风险仍然很大。大流行期间和之后的缠扰行为的受害者和肇事者都需要有效的实践、政策和法律回应。