Analysis of Prioritization in Police Safety Measures for Stalking Crime Victims

The purpose of this study is to analyze the prioritization of safety measures for stalking crime victims to enhance the efficiency of their implementation. The study subjects include 62 police officers responsible for victim protection, such as victim support officers and women and juvenile crime investigators, with one officer selected from each of the 31 police stations under the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency. Additionally, 31 stalking crime victims currently receiving safety measures were included, with one victim from each police station. The research procedure consisted of three main stages. After a literature review, a Focus Group Interview (FGI) was conducted to determine the hierarchical model structure and factors for Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) analysis. Using this model and its identified factors, the importance and prioritization of safety measures for stalking crime victims were derived. The analysis revealed that both groups—the police officers responsible for stalking crime victim protection and the victims themselves—prioritized “personal protection” and “provision of smartwatches” as the most critical measures. In contrast, “112 system registration”(emergency hotline linkage) and “customized patrols” were ranked as the least critical. These findings highlight the need for robust police actions due to the significant likelihood and severity of secondary victimization in stalking crimes. In addition to the various protective measures stipulated in the Act on the Punishment of Stalking Crimes, comprehensive measures such as customized patrols around victims' residences, installation of CCTV, 112 system registration, and the provision of smartwatches are essential for ensuring the safety of stalking crime victims.