| Celebrity stalking has become the way for the | | | | handles the press. Hopefully that person will work |
| socially inept to; A. "normality" or B. stardom. | | | | in liaison with the client, security (you) and the |
| They may have no friends, they may never have | | | | legal department, before publicizing the release. |
| had a date or spouse, but when stalking someone | | | | 4. Do you have adequate security back-up? |
| perceived as significant to the public, the stalkers | | | | Once the show is on, the police have been called |
| feel in control and may feel that they have a | | | | upon, the press release publicized and the client |
| "normal" relationship. | | | | advised to avoid any and all communication with |
| No two cases are alike. Some will stalk from the | | | | the stalker, the pressure begins. Paparazzi, |
| shadows, never bothering their victim and | | | | copy-cat stalkers, show hosts making jokes, |
| subsequently they are seldom discovered. Others | | | | people walking up to your client to show support |
| will write a dozen letters a day and mail gifts or | | | | or the opposite and security companies trying to |
| other items to their victim, thereby inducing fear | | | | sell their products are all a part of the game. It |
| in the victim and the victim's surroundings. | | | | may only last a couple of weeks, but the |
| Celebrity stalking differs from other categories of | | | | workload rises significantly and you will need some |
| stalking (i.e. former spouse stalking) because the | | | | sort of backup. A worn-out personal protection |
| perpetrator, conscious or subconscious, is seeking | | | | specialist is of use to no one. Hire someone |
| to elevate not only his self-esteem but also his | | | | experienced. It is worth the extra money and will |
| social status by the victims fame. | | | | make you sleep better at night, knowing that |
| No matter the type of stalker, it is a crime in | | | | your "temp" is a seasoned pro, with no interest in |
| most countries to follow and harass people and | | | | glamour, bribe money and media coverage. |
| therefore the law will be called upon. As a | | | | Temporary use of a residential security team, if |
| personal protection specialist there are a few | | | | such a team does not already exist, should be |
| things to consider before contacting law | | | | considered as copy-cat stalkers could be tempted |
| enforcement officers. | | | | to trespass so that they can get arrested, with |
| 1. Is your client interested in reporting the stalker | | | | media coverage to follow. |
| to the police? | | | | Besides from all of the above mentioned, the |
| You may think that it is a natural thing to do but | | | | general rules of stalking countermeasures apply, |
| your client may have a different view. It could be | | | | and you should as a minimum instruct your client |
| that the stalker was once employed by your | | | | to: |
| client and/or emotional issues precede the juridical | | | | • Say no once and then avoid all |
| ones. It may be that your client is afraid of worse | | | | communication with the stalker, unless a life or |
| persecution if the stalker walks free. Or as it so | | | | death situation occurs |
| often happens; the company that your client are | | | | • Vary routes and routines |
| contractually engaged with, has their own agenda | | | | • Do not discuss the matter in public, unless it |
| and will not risk bad publicity (At least not until | | | | serves a clear/legal purpose i.e. letting neighbors |
| they can use it in their promotional efforts). The | | | | know, so that they can report suspicious actions |
| palette of colorful excuses is too big for a single | | | | to the police |
| article, but hopefully you get the picture by now. | | | | • Seek refuge in police stations or places with |
| 2. Do you have enough evidence? | | | | armed security guards and video surveillance if |
| Your client may be well known to the public. But is | | | | followed by the stalker without a personal |
| he/she famous or infamous? Either way you | | | | protection agent being present |
| need strong solid evidence. This includes pictures | | | | • Confronted by the stalker; always run if |
| or surveillance film taken when the stalker is | | | | possible and only fight in self defense if absolutely |
| trespassing, Witness reports and the witnesses | | | | necessary |
| willing to testify, letters and E-mails, voicemail etc. | | | | Though there is a lack of books on celebrity |
| As much info gathered as possible. If your client is | | | | stalking, the Personal protection specialist should |
| infamous, known to provoke people, the evidence | | | | consider buying literature on the subject of |
| should be so much stronger and a change of | | | | stalking in general, not only to himself, but also to |
| lifestyle may be needed in order to convince the | | | | the client being stalked, as most victims will |
| public/a judge, that your client did not instigate the | | | | benefit greatly from reading about the illness it is. |
| stalking. | | | | I suggest the following books: The gift of fear, by |
| 3. How will you handle the press? | | | | Gavin De Becker, The psychology of stalking, |
| When a report is made by the police, the jackals | | | | edited by J. Reid Meloy, How to stop a stalker, by |
| of the press will do whatever they can to | | | | Mike Proctor and Surviving a stalker, by Linden |
| uncover the story in its full length. Some will, if the | | | | Gross. All four are great informational sources on |
| story is too thin (read: boring for their target | | | | stalking. |
| group!), create an "angle". This can be a fictitious | | | | Celebrity stalking is actually quite rare. It is the |
| relationship between the stalker and victim or | | | | media focusing on the few existing cases, which |
| whatever. As long as the story sells. To avoid this | | | | makes it "common" and makes the lives of the |
| you need to carefully consider what to tell the | | | | stalkers as well as the victims miserable. When |
| press. Do so BEFORE reporting to the police. | | | | dealing with stalking cases, even though it |
| Remember: telling too much will give the stalker | | | | sometimes can be difficult to foster sympathy |
| what he wants, namely some degree of fame. | | | | towards them, try to remember that the |
| Telling too little will most definitely animate the | | | | perpetrators are mentally ill. I don't mean to imply |
| press to speculate and the tabloids to create | | | | that it should cloud your judgment, when |
| stories. Both situations can become a nuisance | | | | protecting your client. When a criminal gets in your |
| and in worst case, hazardous. Normal procedure is | | | | way, you deal with it! - But use reason before |
| that a press officer from the clients company or | | | | power. |
| a production company makes a press release and | | | | |