The prevalence of stalking in the Netherlands

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Abstract

Over eight years after the enactment of the Dutch anti-stalking provisions there are still no figures detailing the prevalence of stalking in The Netherlands. This article aims to estimate the lifetime and annual prevalence of this form of victimisation within the Dutch population. Questionnaires were distributed in July 2007 to visitors to the annual Tilburg fun fair. Of the 1,027 respondents 16.5 percent reported a lifetime rate of stalking victimisation and 3.9 percent had experienced stalking within the past twelve months. With more than one in five women (20.7%) and almost one in seven men (13.4%), women were significantly more likely to report having been subjected to stalking at some time during their lives. This would concern approximately 1.4 million women and 0.9 million men nationally. In line with previous research, age was significantly related to life-time stalking, with younger people having greater odds of reporting victimisation.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)35-50
JournalInternational Review of Victimology
Volume16
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2009
Externally publishedYes

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