College students are at higher risk for stalking than the general public, but are less likely to report the crime to police, according to a new US study.
The study found that stalking was more prevalent among college students than the general public, with 4.3 per cent of college students experiencing the crime in the last 12 months compared to 2.2 per cent of the general public.
Yet, only one-quarter of college victims filed reports with police, compared to 32 per cent of the general population, according to a study based on data from the 2006 National Crime Victimisation Survey, Stalking Victimisation Supplement.
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Stalking, defined as a repeated course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear, is a crime in all 50 states, researchers said.
This crime most commonly occurs between current or former intimate partners, with the highest rates of offences between 18 to 24 years old, they said.
"The findings from the current analysis suggest that more is needed to build the capacity of universities and public safety officials to systematically address the barriers that inhibit victims from reporting," said Patrick Q Brady from the Sam Houston State University in US.
"Additionally, universities need to ensure that they have the resources necessary to appropriately respond to reports of stalking and other forms of interpersonal violence," said Brady.
