{SITE-NAME} Logo
The Police
Message Type Icon

National Stalking Awareness Week 2024

Monday 22 April sees the start of national Stalking Awareness Week 2024.

The week aims to raise awareness of stalking, the behaviours a stalker may display and the support available to victims. In support of this week, we have re-launched our Let’s Talk Stalking campaign and throughout the week, we will be highlighting the FOUR behaviours that could mean someone is being stalked:

Fixated: Being followed on your daily routine, spied on, or being watched.

Obsession: Being monitored on or offline, cyberstalking, the ordering and cancelling of items in your name

Unwanted: Gifts being sent; unwanted messages, letters or phone calls. Even damage or graffiti being caused to your property.

Repeated: This can be any nuisance or threatening behaviour, being approached, accosted or bullied repeatedly.

Online chat
We are hosting an online Q&A on Thursday 25 April with some of our officers from across the force who will be answering questions from members of the public about stalking. This chat is being hosted on Slido and can be found here: https://app.sli.do/event/aPSCSLpMHJ9T5d2xKooLk2

Stalking Protection Orders
We also thought that this would be a good opportunity to remind you of the Stalking Protection Orders. These orders, which were first introduced in 2019, allow us to intervene at an early stage to protect those who are experiencing stalking. The guidance explains you should consider applying for an order when:

  • a victim has reported stalking behaviour, or it has come to the attention of police during a separate investigation or by other means (such as a third-party referral through the MARAC / MAPPA processes or from another member of the public);

  • at any point during the course of an investigation, up to and including the point of conviction (or acquittal), or where an investigation has not yet commenced; and

  • there is a belief the victim is at risk of harm from the respondent and an order is necessary to protect them from such risk.

    • Support services
    There are also a number of support services and charities available for those who are experiencing stalking, such as:

    The National Stalking Helpline
    This is run by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, you can find out more on their website here. Their phone number is 0808 802 0300.

    New Era
    They provides emotional support and all sorts of practical help to victims of stalking in Staffordshire. They can provide safety planning advice, they don’t provide counselling but can signpost. They can be contacted on 0300 303 3778.

    Paladin
    They are a charitable company and a trauma-informed service established to assist high risk victims of stalking in England and Wales. They can be contacted on 020 3866 4107 (their line is open 9am to 3pm weekdays except for Wednesdays when it is open 10am to 5pm). Outside of these hours they can be emailed info@paladinservice.co.uk and they will try and make arrangements for a call at a convenient time. For more information click here.

    More information on stalking can be found in the Vulnerability Hub: https://sp-intranet.staffordshire.police.uk/stalking-or-harassment/ or on our external website: https://www.staffordshire.police.uk/letstalkstalking

    Reply to this message
    Share
    Share
    Message Sent By
    Rachel Ford
    (Staffordshire Police, PCSO, Stoke North)
    Neighbourhood Alert Cyber Essentials