Stalking is dangerous, not a laughing matter

Emma Raducanu

A man was given a restraining order for stalking British tennis player Emma Raducanu earlier this year. Reports across sporting news pages stated that he was caught trying to apply for tickets for the Wimbledon Championships, which begin on June 30.

Despite the order, he was trying to find ways to witness the British number one playing and perhaps even try to get close to her. There have been reports that the player has been quite traumatised by the stalker. He had reportedly asked for a photo and given her a letter earlier. Reports stated that the player once hid behind an umpire's chair and was driven to tears over this fixated behaviour.

This should make us look at stalking through a larger lens. Celebrities often bring restraining orders against stalkers. They are assigned security, which is quite rightly needed because of the lengths to which these obsessed individuals go. Unfortunately, ordinary people may not have the same recourse. They will also not have the same security measures.

What this underscores, though, is that stalking is not a laughing matter. It is serious and dangerous behaviour. It is time for cops and even individuals to recognise and acknowledge it as such. Unchecked, stalking can often escalate to very dangerous levels. The stalker wants attention from their target. They know their presence, their turning up everywhere at places the subject of their fixation is, is unnerving and threatening. This is intimidation.

To protect those targeted in this manner, the police take cognisance of complaints with merit and react appropriately. The behaviour can also have a significant impact on the mental health of the person being stalked, it can impact a person who can spiral into depression.

Counselling is also needed for traumatised targets.