Joining forces to tackle stalking

We are supporting National Stalking Awareness Week, where police forces and partners come together to raise awareness of stalking through a targeted campaign.

The awareness week, which runs until Friday, coincides with the re-launch of our ‘Let’s Talk Stalking’ campaign, which aims to increase public knowledge and understanding of stalking.

The theme for this year’s national campaign is Join Forces Against Stalking, to demonstrate the importance of multi-agency working to protect victims.

Stalking is defined as persistent and unwanted attention that happens two or more times, causing the victim to feel alarmed, distressed or in fear of violence.

This includes online stalking, which can include unwanted and repeated text messages, unwanted phone calls or repeated interactions on social media.

Inspector, Hayley Eaton, said: “We take stalking extremely seriously and remain committed to doing all we can to bring offenders to justice and safeguard victims. Therefore, it is vital that we have the right tools, resources, training and partnerships in place to help identify victims and keep them safe.

“We continue to work closely with other agencies, such as the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), Stoke-on-Trent City Council, Staffordshire County Council and North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare (NSCHT) to tackle the crime, which leaves many victims living in fear.

“We have also undertaken work with the University of Gloucester to help develop our training package to ensure effective risk assessment, safeguarding, investigation and positive use of police powers.”

Our #LetsTalkStalking campaign  focuses on educating the public on four key behaviours:

Fixated – being followed on your daily routine, spied on, or being watched by someone loitering around your work or home

Obsessed – being monitored on or offline, cyberstalking, the ordering and cancelling of items on your behalf

Unwanted – gifts being sent or left for you; unwanted messages, letters or phone calls; even damage or graffiti being caused to your property

Repeated – this can be any nuisance or threatening behaviour

Inspector Eaton added: “If you’re experiencing stalking please contact us sooner rather than later to allow us to work with you and agree a course of action to help protect you and stop the behaviour.

“This can include using Stalking Protection Orders (SPOs) against offenders following arrest. These protect you while we investigate the crime and gather evidence, enabling the offender to be charged and prosecuted.”