The Police Service of Northern Ireland is once again utilising a parody romantic comedy trailer to highlight the dangerous and obsessive behaviours that define stalking. The two-minute film, which is being shared for a second consecutive year, initially depicts what seems to be a typical "happy couple" before revealing escalating red flags that culminate after the relationship ends.

Originally developed by Gloucestershire Police in 2023, the campaign was tailored for a Northern Ireland audience to coincide with National Stalking Awareness Week, running from 20th to 26th April. The initiative aims to dispel the myth—often reinforced by cinema—that persistent, unwanted attention is a romantic gesture rather than a criminal pattern of behaviour.

Stalking is defined as a pattern of repeated, unwanted contact that causes a victim to feel distressed or fearful. Crucially, the PSNI notes that a victim does not need to be threatened with physical violence for the behaviour to constitute stalking. To help the public identify these patterns, the police use the "FOUR" mnemonic:

• Fixated

• Obsessed

• Unwanted

• Repeated

Legislative changes in April 2022 officially criminalised stalking in Northern Ireland. Between then and 31st March 2026, the PSNI has made 945 arrests for the offence, leading to 491 charges. Furthermore, since October 2023, four Stalking Protection Orders have been successfully granted to restrict perpetrator movements and protect victims.

Detective Superintendent Kerry Brennan said: "With this campaign we are asking the public again to not ignore the red flags. If someone's behaviour towards you is fixated, obsessive, unwanted and repeated, this is stalking.

"I think many people when they hear the word 'stalking' will think of someone lurking in the shadows. Stalking can actually take many forms and can be online as well as in person and could be someone known to you or a complete stranger. "It is an insidious crime that takes over and destroys lives, it is not the rom com love story that people think it is. 'They left flowers at my door again' – this is sometimes not an act of kindness but more a warning sign of unhealthy obsession.

"Statistics show that people will suffer up to 100 incidents before reporting to Police. It often results in fear, trauma and a reduction in the victim's quality of life, in some tragic cases it has resulted in murder."

Brennan added that thousands of officers have received specialist training to better respond to these reports. "Our advice is if you are experiencing the behaviour highlighted in the campaign to keep a log of everything, regardless of how small you feel it may be, and contact the police.

"There are a range of things we can do in order to disrupt the person's behaviour, such as Stalking Protections Orders, which for example can block contact or attempts to make contact, create exclusion zones or order people to not post on social media with reference to a victim. A breach is a criminal offence, and these are tools available to us to manage perpetrators."

The PSNI has identified a variety of warning signs, including:

• Unexpected visits to homes or workplaces

• Persistent calls, messages, or social media contact

• Unwanted gifts appearing at an address

• Interfering with or damaging property

• Loitering in areas the victim frequents

• Contacting the victim's family or friends to gather information

• Identity theft or running up debts in the victim's name

• The use of spyware or location tracking

Individuals who are unsure if they are experiencing stalking can contact the National Stalking Helpline at 0808 802 0300. For emergency assistance, always dial 999.