1/10
Luca Hänni and Christina Luft defend themselves against a stalker.
In 2014, Luca Hänni (28) made it public for the first time that a stalker was making his life difficult. The psychological terror has not stopped to this day – on the contrary. His fiancee Christina Luft (32) is now also suffering from it.
Blick editor on Luca Hänni: «Stalkerin showed up during our interviews»(01:20)
Stalkers usually pursue and harass their victims over a longer period of time. This can severely affect the lives of those affected.
Hänni therefore wrote in a recently published statement: “I, or now Christina, have been fighting with the police and lawyers for years. Unfortunately, when it comes to stalking, it takes a long time for something to happen.”
turn on the police
The problem with stalking: Unlike in Germany, for example, there is no criminal offense in Switzerland that makes stalking illegal as such. Because: Many of the actions of the perpetrators are often considered on their own, not legally considered illegal. But from a preventive point of view, according to experts, it is still important to recognize stalking early on and to take countermeasures.
In addition, the police should be called in and criminal charges should be filed. Because there are still opportunities to become legally active. Because individual acts of stalking can constitute other criminal offenses. Such as threats, coercion or trespassing.
Counseling centers for stalking victims
Victims of stalking receive support from the following organizations:
There is a cantonal victim counseling center in every canton. They advise victims on psychological, legal and financial matters.
The Swiss Crime Prevention information brochure explains to those affected which strategies and specific measures they can use to best defend themselves against stalkers.
Victims of stalking receive support from the following organizations:
There is a cantonal victim counseling center in every canton. They advise victims on psychological, legal and financial matters.
The Swiss Crime Prevention information brochure explains to those affected which strategies and specific measures they can use to best defend themselves against stalkers.
The Swiss Crime Prevention (SKP) and the cantonal victim advice centers advise victims to tell the offender unequivocally that they do not want any contact. After that, it is important to remain consistent in any case. That means blocking the person on all social media channels and ignoring all other attempts to make contact. Hesitant behavior is often misinterpreted by the stalker.
Inform relatives, keep a “diary”.
According to the SKP, it is also important that the people affected also inform those around them about the stalker. Dealing openly with the problem offers protection – and prevents stalker from obtaining information about the victim from third parties.
Relatives can also provide psychological support to the victim. Many victims of stalking suddenly feel helpless and therefore withdraw. Relatives can support victims to go about their usual work and leisure activities or to have conversations.
Experts also advise keeping a kind of stalking “diary”. So to record all events in writing, to back up e-mails and messages or to take screenshots of chat histories. All of this is evidence that can also be handed over to the authorities. (oco)