Harassment escalating to murder
Discussion
It is not uncommon in murder cases to see a history of escalating harassment, we are supposed to have laws aimed to prevent harassment and stalking, but appearances suggest these are not working well. Is that correct and if so, why not? is it a case that nothing is perfect, or is there a recognised flaw. Goggling doesn't produce any concrete details, just examples and a commentary on failure of the criminal justice system.
You can't monitor people 24/7, it's impossible.
Many victims don't want the protection because they want to be in a relationship with that person due to low self esteem, abuse, manipulation so they don't report breaches of restraining orders or non-molestation orders meaning you get times where they've been living together or carrying on in secret.
In some cases mistakes are made by the authorities, but these are few and far between now.
Police are arresting and trying to present cases for courts now without support from a victim but it is difficult, especially if a victim starts giving evidence for the defence!!
The court system is inflexible and out of date and incredibly intimidating to a lot of people.
Many victims don't want the protection because they want to be in a relationship with that person due to low self esteem, abuse, manipulation so they don't report breaches of restraining orders or non-molestation orders meaning you get times where they've been living together or carrying on in secret.
In some cases mistakes are made by the authorities, but these are few and far between now.
Police are arresting and trying to present cases for courts now without support from a victim but it is difficult, especially if a victim starts giving evidence for the defence!!
The court system is inflexible and out of date and incredibly intimidating to a lot of people.
4x4Tyke said:
It is not uncommon in murder cases to see a history of escalating harassment, we are supposed to have laws aimed to prevent harassment and stalking, but appearances suggest these are not working well. Is that correct and if so, why not? is it a case that nothing is perfect, or is there a recognised flaw. Goggling doesn't produce any concrete details, just examples and a commentary on failure of the criminal justice system.
I don't think its any thing like as simple as that tbh.Issues around controlling and coercive behaviour, culture, family and other pressures can significantly impact on victims - not only recognising what they are being subject to, but then doing something about it.
Social Media seems to have created a fog of reports of "I have been threatened" too.
The CJ system needs to make it as easy as possible for victims of stalking and harassment to come forward - including through third parties - but this approach also adds to the volume.
Personally, I'd say we have come a long way since the 70s, 80s and 90s but it will take time and probably never be perfect.
Police in particular, building trust in LGBT communities get pilloried by minority but vocal critics - but the victims are just as prevalent (but arguably less able to seek support?).
Its hardly a Criminal Justice issue alone, more a reflection of a society that has recognised victims who had never been listened to, or recognised before and is now saying we need to do more to prevent and deal with such behaviour and offending.
You are working backwards, even if the majority of murder victims had been stalked / harassed, that isn't evidence that the measure against it aren't working, it just means they are not 100% effective, which they almost certainly could never be.
If there were a 500 people a year getting stalked and 100 of them getting murdered, that is a very different problem to 500k people a year getting stalked and 100 of them getting murdered.
If there were a 500 people a year getting stalked and 100 of them getting murdered, that is a very different problem to 500k people a year getting stalked and 100 of them getting murdered.
Harassment orders are just that, an order to desist from harassing someone etc, it is issued but it is not necessary for the person it is issued to, to acknowledge it, and it is generally for 6-12 months, after which it is open season again.
Continued harassment during the order will/should invoke further action by the police if the complainant Is taken seriously.
Continued harassment during the order will/should invoke further action by the police if the complainant Is taken seriously.
The harassment act 1997 in my opinion is the most misused piece of law the country has. It gets used all of the time for petty spats on Facebook etc between people who seem incapable of managing their own lives. Literally hundreds of people every day across the country report harassment for trivial disputes. It dilutes the real purpose of the law which was to protect people from real serious stalking/harrassment not from someone calling them a "slag" on the face books.
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