More Than Half of Stalking Cases Dismissed in Belgium

More than half of all stalking cases registered by Belgian prosecutors’ offices between 2021 and 2025 were dismissed, according to new data compiled by federal parliament member Sophie De Wit (N-VA). Of the 132,088 stalking cases filed during that period, 71,486 — or 54 percent — were dropped, while only 11,941 cases (9 percent) led to a formal court summons.

The figures, first reported by Het Nieuwsblad and confirmed by VRT NWS, reveal a justice system struggling to keep pace with a sharp rise in stalking complaints. The number of cases increased by 35.5 percent over the five-year period, with the threshold of 30,000 reports exceeded in 2025 alone.

Why the Dismissal Rate Matters

The dismissals fall into two categories: 39,388 cases were dropped for technical reasons — such as insufficient evidence or an unidentified perpetrator — while 32,098 were dismissed on opportunity grounds, meaning prosecutors chose not to pursue prosecution. Criminologist Anne Groenen told HLN that the technical dismissals are often a matter of evidentiary difficulty.

“Stalking is about a sequence of behaviors that individually can seem banal, but together form a pattern that seriously disturbs the victim’s peace,” Groenen said. “That pattern is precisely what is legally often more difficult to prove than one clear act of violence.”

For De Wit, the high dismissal rate sends a dangerous signal to victims. “A report should not be the end point,” she told VRT NWS. “The prosecutors’ offices must continue to treat these cases as a priority.” She has called for more frequent use of expedited proceedings, automatic updates for victims on case progress, and reliable statistics.

Stalking as a Precursor to Violence

The stakes are particularly high because stalking frequently precedes more serious violence. In 4 out of 10 cases, the stalking occurred within an intimate partner relationship, and two-thirds of victims are women. De Wit emphasized that stalking is “regularly a precursor to more serious violence, especially when the facts take place within a relational or family context.”

The case of Ingrid Vermeiren, featured in the VRT Canvas documentary series ‘En nu is ze dood.’ (“And now she is dead.”), illustrates the potentially fatal consequences. Vermeiren was stalked for 1.5 years by her ex-partner, who placed trackers in her car and sent threatening messages. Despite reporting her fears to police — telling them “I really fear for my life” — she felt unheard. After she filed a civil-party complaint, her ex was convicted of stalking in September 2023. Two weeks later, he shot her multiple times at close range. She survived but suffered severe injuries.

Her ex-partner was sentenced to 20 years in prison. As VRT NWS reported, Vermeiren described living in constant fear: “I was always afraid of the moment he would show up.”

A Growing Awareness Gap

The rise in stalking reports is not necessarily negative. De Wit noted that greater societal attention to stalking and intimate partner violence, combined with better referral to specialized care, means more victims are finding their way to help. “That is a positive evolution, because for years many victims remained under the radar,” she said.

The documentary series has demonstrably increased awareness. According to helpline 1712, contacts rose 20 percent during the first week of the series, with calls about partner violence up 37 percent. Notably, seven stalking calls were registered in the week after the first episode — previously there had been zero. More than 35 people explicitly said they contacted the helpline because of the series.

A Persistent Problem

This is not the first time the dismissal rate has been flagged. In 2018, similar data showed that 52 percent of stalking complaints were dismissed — meaning the current figure of 54 percent represents a slight worsening. The issue is part of a broader pattern: as N-VA reported in March, 60 percent of domestic violence cases end without criminal prosecution.

The broader context is sobering. According to VRT NWS, a woman is murdered by her partner or ex-partner every two weeks in Belgium, and 14 percent of all murder or manslaughter cases involve partner violence. The Belgian femicide law, in force since October 2023, will eventually provide official statistics, but the first report is not expected until late 2026.

What’s Next

Advocates and lawmakers are pushing for concrete reforms. De Wit has proposed legislation for a victim app with GPS tracking, and the number of temporary home bans has more than doubled — from 438 in 2021 to 926 in 2025. But the fundamental question remains: how will the justice system ensure that filing a report is not the end of the road for stalking victims?

For Vermeiren, the answer is personal. “I think his ideal scenario was to die together with me. Out of ‘love’,” she said. Her case is a stark reminder that every dismissed stalking case carries the potential for escalation — and that the system’s response to complaints can be a matter of life and death.