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Stalking intervention orders

Stalking is when someone repeatedly contacts another person or behaves in a way that makes them feel scared, distressed or fear for their safety. A stalker can be anyone, not just a family member or someone you know.

A person may be stalking you if they want to cause you physical or mental harm by:

  • following or watching you
  • going to or hanging around your home, work or any other place you regularly visit 
  • contacting you in any way, including by post, telephone, fax, text message, or email 
  • putting information online about you
  • pretending to be you online or hacking into your computer 
  • tracing your use of the internet, email or other electronic communications
  • interfering with your property 
  • giving you offensive material or leaving it where you will find it 
  • making you fear for the safety of another person.

It must happen more than once for it to be stalking.

A magistrate will only make an intervention order if they think it is likely to happen again in the future. See the Magistrates’ Court website (link below) for more information about what to do if you think someone is stalking you.

More information

Conditions in a stalking intervention order

Applying for an intervention order

If an application has been made against you

Related websites

Magistrates’ Court – Stalking intervention orders (new window)

How we can help

Call Victoria Legal Aid’s (VLA) Legal Information Service for free information over the phone about the law and how we can help you with your legal problem. You can speak to a legal information officer in English or ask for an interpreter.

Phone (03) 9269 0120 or 1800 677 402 (country callers), Monday to Friday from 8.45 am to 5.15 pm.

VLA’s other free legal services include:

  • advice at VLA offices and other locations across Victoria
  • lawyers who are on ‘duty’ at the Magistrates’ Courts who can give you advice on the day of your hearing.

For some matters, we can provide you with a lawyer to help you run your case.

To find out more about any of our legal services see What we do.

Who else can help?

If you are in danger, call the police on ‘000’.

Your local community legal centre (CLC) can give you legal information and advice. Most CLC services are free. See the Community Law website (new window) for more information and CLC contact details.