Surveillance serves an important role in investigations. It is a lawful activity and is considered as evidence in court.

In contrast, stalking reflects sociopathic tendencies and criminal intent. It’s an illegal activity designed to control the victim’s behaviour and feelings. 

SURVEILLANCE

Legal

Surveillance activities do not violate any laws. Surveillance is conducted in a way that respects a subject’s legal right to a reasonable expectation of privacy.

Only evidence that is legally collected will be effective in helping support a client’s case in court.

Motivation is to gather evidence

Surveillance is primarily conducted to help clients make better decisions and to obtain evidence that can hold up in court.

Clients are given information to effectively decide whether to give their employee a raise, stay with a spouse, or hire a candidate as a CEO.

Clients also have information to decide whether to take a subject to court over insurance fraud or employee theft.

STALKING

Illegal

Stalking is considered illegal in most parts of the world.

Although some of the actions that relate to stalking are legal, such as sending gifts to the victim, when they become illegal and considered stalking differs depending on the country.

Many countries look at whether the activity of the stalker would cause a reasonable person to feel unsafe.

As stalking escalates, the stalker may threaten the victim, break into their residence or illegally access information.

Motivation is to control

The purpose of stalking is to get information to exercise control and intimidate the victim. The stalker wants full control over how their victim feels and acts.

Stalking is a tool to manipulate a victim into complying with the wishes of a stalker.

Victims of stalkers should contact the police and keep track of all incidences of stalking.

Photo Source: Flickr (man being followed), Flickr (courtroom), Flickr (stalker)