Zara McDermott Explains Why She Made 'To Catch a Stalker' Documentary

The Motivation Behind 'To Catch a Stalker'

• 💡 Zara McDermott explains her personal drive to create the documentary 'To Catch a Stalker', aiming to raise awareness and dispel myths surrounding the crime.
• 🎯 The series was filmed over 10 months, focusing on the profound psychological, physical, social, and practical impacts of stalking on victims.
• 🔍 McDermott also spent time with a police force to investigate how stalking reports are handled and the reasons behind low conviction rates.

Understanding Stalking as a Crime

• ⚠️ Stalking is described as a growing and evolving crime, with a blurred line between it and harassment, making early identification crucial.
• 📺 The documentary aims to counter the glamorization of stalking behaviors often seen in media like movies and TV shows.
• 🗣️ McDermott emphasizes the importance of calling out such behavior and supporting friends, family, and colleagues who may be experiencing or exhibiting stalking tendencies.

The Victim's Experience

• 💔 The documentary prioritizes the victim's perspective, avoiding sensationalism and aiming for viewers to experience the emotions victims endure daily.
• 🚶 McDermott sought to immerse viewers in the victim's reality by presenting the events in the moment, rather than retrospectively.
• ⏳ A surprising revelation was that victims are often stalked for an average of 10 years, highlighting the long-lasting impact on their lives.

Impact and Support

• ⚖️ McDermott expresses frustration and anger at the injustice victims face, particularly the self-blame they often carry.
• 💪 The women featured in the documentary are highlighted for their incredible strength, bravery, and willingness to share their stories.
• 🏫 McDermott hopes the documentary will be shown in schools to educate and foster change regarding this critical subject.
• 📈 With one in seven people over 16 experiencing stalking, the series aims to support victims, provide safeguarding, and encourage societal change to combat this crime.