Harassment: How to do deal with people that harass or try to harass you
Stalking as a specific behavior as opposed to harassment more generally. Closed the lacuna when a course of conduct fell short of causing a victim to feel the fear of violence but nevertheless caused a victim serious alarm or distress. Harassment and stalking nowadays are increasing n all countries as well as Fiji.
Everyone should have the right to go about their daily business in safety and without fear. The constant worry of being stalked can take an enormous toll on your health and emotional state of mind. Nobody has the right to harass you or stalk you and the Police and courts can take action against anyone who is doing such a thing. Never go through this alone but always get support through friends, family, helplines, counselors, etc.
If you are being stalked or harassed keep a diary of all incidents if possible- dates, times, what occurred, any witnesses to what occurred etc. If you report any incidents to the Police, Council etc. keeps dates, times, names of person you spoke to and what was said and what action you were told would be taken if possible. If you are receiving silent, threatening phone calls contact the police ASAP.
If you are receiving malicious calls and text messages always keep the text message and report this to the Police and your mobile phone network provider as they will work with BT to trace who is making these calls to you. If you are being stalked try to avoid going out alone and keep too busy public places. If you think you are being followed make for a shop to get help. If you are not near a shop then knock on a house and ask the householder to contact the Police. If you notice cars following you or outside your house then always take make, model, and registration, date, time etc. and report this to the Police if you keep seeing the same car.
Contact the local Police Crime Prevention Unit to check your house out to see whether there are ways in which it needs to be made safer – stronger locks, window locks, security lighting at back and front etc. It may help to contact helplines/counselor to give you regular emotional support at this time unless you already have a good network around you of support.
Try not to allow what is happening dominate your life and thoughts. Try and keep to your regular routine, try to do things you enjoy doing and spending time with friends. Don’t allow the harassment, stalking, to make you think there is anything wrong with you.
The person who is doing this to you is disturbed and can be doing it for all sorts of reasons, it could be jealousy, someone who you may have once known and broken contact with, ex-lovers, someone who has become fixated with you – there can be many reasons – but remember the problem is with the person doing the stalking/harassment and not YOU.