Saturday, April 26, 2008

German stalkers get a walk-in centre

Germany has opened its first walk-in centre to help stalkers change their behaviour.

The centre, which will offer help to anyone anonymously, follows the introduction of a new law criminalising stalking.

A team of social workers and psychotherapists is on hand at the "Stop-Stalking" centre in Berlin to offer help for what is describes as an "addiction".

The new law carries a possible three-year jail term, rising to 10 if the stalker threatens to kill their target.

Wolf Ortiz-Müller, a psychologist and the centre's director, said: "Stalking is something that affects many people of both genders. It has to be treated in a preventative manner, not just when the culprit has been sentenced."

He described stalking as a drug that gradually overwhelmed every aspect of the lives of those behind it.

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