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11 Apr 2011 09:03:07
The University of Bedfordshire today (Monday 11 April) launches the National Centre for Cyberstalking Research (NCCR), believed to be the first of its kind in the UK.
The announcement comes at the start of the first annual National Stalking Awareness Week which aims to raise understanding of stalking through the campaign Name It. Report it. Stop it.
The Centre has been set up in a bid to address the need for research and analysis of this increased threat to individuals and society.
Launching the Centre Co-Director Professor Carsten Maple, said: “Cyberstalking has received a great deal of media interest recently with a spate of incidents reaching national and international levels. The growth of the problem is something that clearly governments, charities and the public are concerned about.
“That is why we have set up the Centre – to ensure that systematic, academic research is carried out into cyberstalking to be used as a basis for effective preventions and responses.”
Currently there is little research into this specialised area. The Centre will provide high quality research to help, understand and tackle the growing problem.
Dr Emma Short is a Chartered Psychologist at the University and is Co-Director of the Centre. She is an expert in cyberstalking and is leading the ECHO (Electronic Communication Harassment Observation) project that is investigating harassment in online communities.
The ground-breaking research study launched last September was commissioned by internationally-recognised charity Network for Surviving Stalking (NSS) and is the first research project focusing purely on cyberstalking.
She said: “Setting up the Centre is a very exciting move forward. The initial pilot study is now complete and we are in the process of analysing the data and expect to report our findings next month (May).”
A more detailed study is starting today and will run for 12 months. It can be accessed at www.beds.ac.uk/echo and is backed by the NSS. The findings will be published next year.
The Centre is interdisciplinary and draws upon the expertise of a number of people working in different fields including technology, psychology, sociology and law.
It hopes to work closely with various organisations including the NSS, the Crown Prosecution Service and NAPO, the Trade Union and Professional Association for Family Court and Probation Staff.
Professor Maple added: “I am confident the Centre will facilitate greater understanding of this area and by bringing together knowledge and expertise from a range of fields it will ensure steps are taken to reduce the prevalence of this growing problem and minimise its effects.”
Latest news» 2011» April» University launches unique research centre into cyberstalking
