P075 - Police responses to young people’s experiences of cyberstalking

• In Event: Poster Session & Ice Cream Social

Abstract

Young people in particular utilise digital spaces to create new connections and even initiate, sustain, and carry out part of their intimate relationships online (Lykens et al., 2019; Van Ouytsel et al., 2018). However, in our digitally interconnected world, cyberstalking has emerged as a significant concern which impacts approximately 20 to 40 percent of online users worldwide (Reyns et al., 2012; Spitzberg & Hoobler, 2002; Tokunaga & Aune, 2017).
Prior research highlights technology has also provided opportunities to facilitate online monitoring of others (Verduyn et al., 2017) due to the proficiency and ease at which information can be obtained (Sheridan & Grant, 2007). Consequently, the rise of digital technologies has given perpetrators new avenues and opportunities to target victims (Brady et al., 2023; Van Ouytsel et al., 2018) resulting in a rise of cyberstalking (Fansher & Randa, 2019). However, little work to date has explored young people’s perceptions and experiences of cyberstalking. With research consistently revealing very few cyberstalking victims choose to report their experiences to the police (Brady et al., 2023; Fissel 2021; Reyn and Englebrecht 2010), there is a notable research gap regarding young people’s reasons not to report cyberstalking incidents.
This paper will explore some of the key issues emerging from the literature review, including prevalence and variations of cyberstalking among young people, experiences and barriers to reporting to the police and other agencies. The paper will also provide an overview of the methodological approach and methods of data collection that will be adopted. Moreover, the research aims to contribute to the improvement of victim’s support, inform police forces and refine practice within the cyberstalking sector.

Author

• Tahreem Tahir, University of Central Lancashire