Stalking, obsessively harassing another, can sometimes go so far as to cause casualties. Last week, 35-year-old Marly from Best and her cousin from Eindhoven were killed in Belgium. The suspect is the woman’s ex-boyfriend, who allegedly stalked her after the relationship broke up. Establishing and prosecuting stalking is not easy for the police, the judiciary and lawyers. How can stalkers best be dealt with?
The Linda van der Giesen case caused quite a stir in 2015. She was shot dead by her ex in the parking lot near her work. This was preceded by a period of threats. The police had misjudged the case, a later investigation revealed. Criminal lawyer Peter Schouten argued for that investigation and has been committed to the next of kin of the victim for years.
“The case of Linda van der Giesen has put society on edge.”
According to Schouten, the police should still act much faster. “Stalking builds up so slowly that no one sees it as a crime. It is also very difficult to grasp. If an ex calls out to the bakery that he is going to kill you, you report it to the police. But before you have filed a report and that baker is heard, we are eight days further. The police should give stalking more priority, but lack the manpower to tackle it immediately.”
He also advocates including a so-called ‘protection order’ in the law. This is a low-threshold way to get a contact or restraining order. This would also make it possible to act more quickly in the event of stalking. “In Linda’s case, she would have felt supported with this order. Then she could have warned her employer about her ex.”
However, he also sees positive changes in the approach. “The case of Linda van der Giesen, but also that of Humeyra, who was shot dead in Rotterdam, has put society on edge,” says Schouten.
“Stalking is now recognized and seen as a danger by judges.”
“A form has been drawn up that immediately estimates the threat in the event of stalking. This form is immediately filled in by the agent who draws up the official report when the report is made. However, it remains important that this is done carefully.”
Judges are also more likely to see the danger these days, Schouten believes. Where previously harassment was often seen as a form of domestic violence, nowadays it is more often referred to as stalking. “Domestic violence still has the air of ‘two fight, two blame’. Then the victim was wrongly accused. Stalking is now recognized and seen as a danger by judges.”
The police themselves point to the extensive website and a brochure about stalking, in which she explains how they deal with stalking, what victims can do best and where they can get help. In order to tackle stalking, a report must be made and the victim must request an investigation.
“It’s important to keep calling the police.”
If there is not enough evidence, there are no options for apprehending the stalker and taking criminal action. “Still, it is important to keep calling the police,” it reads, “so that everything is recorded and action can be taken due to the accumulation of facts.”
If the stalking has not been going on for a long time and has not gotten out of hand, the police can have a stop conversation with the stalker. Then the police explain to the perpetrator that stalking is punishable and that it must stop. According to the police, experience shows that many stalkers stop after such a conversation. If it doesn’t stop, it’s important that victims collect evidence: times and places where things happened, screenshots of threats and data from witnesses.
Despite the improvements, Schouten remains critical and has a clear opinion about stalkers. “A little stalker is just crazy, nobody who stalks is sane.”
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