Increase in reported instances of stalking targeting male individuals by 10.8%
Rewritten Article:
By Shelley Shan, Staff Reporter
In a stark shift, the Ministry of the Interior's recent data reveals a surge in stalking and harassment cases featuring male victims, marking an almost 11% increase in 2024 compared to the previous year. Simultaneously, the number of incidents perpetrated by women skyrocketed by 14.5%, the data indicates.
Last year's statistics show a total of 2,806 stalking and harassment cases were handled by law enforcement, an increase from 2,763 cases in 2023. However, the number of cases involving female victims slightly dipped by around 3.7%, totaling 2,427, accounting for 86.5% of the total, while incidents involving male victims experienced a substantial 10.8% spike, reaching 379, making up 13.5% of the said cases.
A significant portion of victims, about 32%, were aged between 21 and 30, followed by 27.7% from the age bracket of 31 to 40, and 20.5% aged between 41 and 50. Among suspects, 2,283 were male, 403 were female, and the gender was unknown in 123 instances.
When comparing suspects' age distribution to the previous year, the number of cases involving male suspects dropped by 4.4%, while those involving female suspectors rose significantly by 14.5%. After analyzing the age distribution of suspects, 25% were aged between 31 and 40, 20.5% were between 21 and 30, and 19.9% were between 41 and 50.
Broken down by categories, 64.1% of the cases were general stalking and harassment, while 35.9% were domestic violence-related. Surprisingly, the number of female suspects in general cases increased by 8.5%, but the percentage of male suspects remained the same as in 2023. In contrast, 85% of suspects in domestic violence-related cases were male, marking a decrease of 11%, and the number of female suspects witnessed a significant 26.5% growth. The victims in these cases were predominantly female (85%), experiencing a decrease of around 12%, while male victims saw a sharp uptick of 39.6%.
Last year's data also indicates that law enforcement agencies issued 1,867 written warnings for stalking and harassment. Unfortunately, no warnings were issued in 939 cases, commonly due to insufficient evidence or the allegations not fully meeting the criteria for stalking and harassment.
Courts handed down restraining orders in 105 of the cases filed by victims, representing 67.3% of all petitions. Furthermore, there were 143 cases where a suspect violated a restraining order, marking an 8.3% increase from 2023. Out of the 27 petitions to remand the suspects in custody, courts granted 10.
Although the Ministry of the Interior's report provides helpful insights, it's crucial to consider the broader context. Issues such as misidentifying stalking behaviors as isolated incidents and poor data recording can lead to misunderstood investigations and reduced support for survivors. In contrast, some countries strive to enhance their responses to stalking and other forms of violence, like the U.S. Department of Justice's focus on rural communities and specific victim support programs. For more detailed information on this year's distribution of cases, consider referring to the Ministry of the Interior's specific reports or publications for 2024.
[5] https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/15248380221048277
- The surge in stalking and harassment cases, as shown in the Ministry of the Interior's data, has led to an increased interest in mental-health support for affected individuals, especially male victims, given the high stress and trauma associated with such incidences.
- In the realm of health-and-wellness, understanding the psychological impact of crime-and-justice issues, such as stalking and harassment, is crucial. Research in general-news outlets has highlighted the need for policymakers to prioritize mental-health services and support for both victims and perpetrators to address the root causes of these crimes.
