Stalking - the signs and how victims are supported in Dorset
Stalking is a very serious problem, which can have a devastating effect on victims. I want to assure you I am absolutely committed to tackling this harmful offence as part of my Police and Crime Plan. Supporting victims is at the heart of this priority, and ensuring their voice is heard is key. As a candidate I met Sam Bumford who had had a horrible experience of being stalked and I was determined to make a difference.
As well as Dorset Police using Stalking Protection Orders alongside other effective intervention measures, my office also financially supports the Independent Stalking Advocacy Caseworker service, provided by You Trust/Paragon. And I have also commissioned Victim Support, whose ongoing work supports victims of all crimes in Dorset including stalking.
Today, I am pleased to hand over my newsletter to Detective Chief Superintendent Lindsay Dudfield who is the lead officer for stalking in Dorset Police. She will tell us about the work the force is doing to tackle this crime, and some exciting news about a new product which is set to launch soon in a bid to raise awareness of stalking behaviours.
“The impact stalking can have on victims is devastating and, in many cases, long-lasting. I want to assure all victims that it is a priority for us to safeguard them and ensure perpetrators are brought to justice. As the strategic lead on stalking, I work within the force to improve investigative standards and to increase awareness of what is involved in stalking, and what the indicators are in order to get the right outcomes for victims.
Stalking is one of those crimes where it is not always easy to identify. It’s very challenging. We’re determined to ensure that when victims contact us, stalking is recognised by those at first contact – from the control room and beyond. It is still the case that the majority of stalking cases are domestic-related, which means the offender is known to the victim. That’s not to say there aren’t cases of stranger stalking, but they are nowhere near as prevalent.
Due to the often-complex nature of this offence, sometimes we find that victims do not want a criminal justice outcome, they just want the stalking to stop. This is where it is so important to be listening to the victim and focused on what they want. There can be a range of complex reasons for them not wanting to proceed down this path. We do not underestimate the importance of listening and ensuring the victim is properly signposted and has access to the right support, while of course respecting their decision not to proceed through the criminal justice process.
There are a wide range of safeguarding interventions and tools we can use to protect victims, including Community Orders, Domestic Violence Protection Orders and Stalking Protection Orders. And even when there is insufficient evidence in an investigation to proceed down the criminal justice path, there are still mechanisms and safeguarding measures we can put in place.
We also work closely with external partners and support services including the Dorset Stalking Clinic to safeguard victims and prevent victimisation. This enables a co-ordinated approach from core agencies to share full information and enable robust risk assessments to ensure all safeguarding is followed. The process also ensures the victims voice is heard and allows positive engagement with crime prevention. In Dorset, the Police and Crime Commissioner has also financially committed to supporting the Independent Stalking Advocacy Caseworker (ISAC) service provided by You Trust/Paragon. This is an important role which delivers support to victims of stalking through guiding them through the criminal justice system and providing advice and guidance.
Dorset Police will also be launching a new film and campaign, which has been successful in Gloucestershire in tackling stalking and raising awareness of behaviours which can be misconstrued as romantic but in reality are unacceptable. The short film works around the pneumonic of FOUR - Fixated, Obsessed, Unwanted and Repeated. The campaign centres around a short film, capturing why society needs to stop pretending it is romantic to display the FOUR behaviours. Campaigns like this are so important to tackling this offence as we know when incidents are being reported to us, the behaviours demonstrated in this film may not always seem out of order to victims, but they know something isn’t right. Often, they will minimise what’s been happening, saying there is no violence. But there does not need to be violence in order for this offence to be serious. The aim of the campaign is to help them and others pinpoint that these behaviours are unacceptable. We know they can be a pre-cursor to much more serious offences and we want to help more people recognise it for themselves to prevent this from happening.
If you’ve been a victim of stalking, I want to encourage you to come forward and contact the police. We are here to help and have officers trained to support you. You don’t have to put up with persistent and unwanted attention. If that behaviour if making you fearful or anxious, please get in touch online or via 101. And always remember in an emergency to contact 999.”
I would like to reiterate this important message and urge victims to come forward and seek help. I am intent on making sure as many people as possible know about stalking, the signs, how it affects people and of course where to get support. Our officers are trained to help you and I would encourage you to have the confidence to contact either the police, Victim Support Dorset or the National Stalking Helpline. I want to reassure you; you will be listened to. I am determined the voices of victims will be heard in my fight to make Dorset the safest county.
David Sidwick
Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner