Wiltshire Police is supporting a national campaign to highlight stalking and harassment as well as helping those who become victims of such behaviours.
National Stalking Awareness Week runs from 25th – 29th April 2022.
Supt Sarah Robbins said: “We remain absolutely committed to protecting victims of stalking. These offences have a significant, often life-changing impact on victims and, without appropriate, early intervention, the risk of harm can quickly escalate.
“An awareness week like this is just one of the examples of how we, along with our partner agencies, are trying to tackle such a serious crime.
“Over the past few years we have put in place stalking champions, to provide specialist advice to officers dealing with these types of cases, as well as informative step-by-step guides and training for our frontline officers and staff.
“We’ve also worked closely with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), as well as the government, to roll out Stalking Protection Orders, which can be used as an additional tool to protect victims.
“So, some in roads have been made and there has been a huge amount of work around raising awareness of stalking offences, the importance of reporting this and what help and support there is available. This has led to an increase in reports.
“However, there is always more to be done and we are committed to working with the national stalking consortium and associated charities to continue to improve outcomes.
“I would urge anyone who believes they may be the subject of stalking to come forward at the earliest opportunity and report their concerns to the police so we can work with them to make sure they are safe and protected from harm.”
As part of National Stalking Awareness Week Wiltshire Police will be offering advice to help anyone receiving obsessive, unwanted attention. Tips on how to deal with this type of behaviour:
– Keep a record with times, venue and description of what happened; write down information as soon as possible when events are still fresh in your mind
– Record how the suspect looked and sounded – what they were wearing and the make and number plate of any vehicle involved
– Stay alert and aware of your surroundings at all times
– Think about your phone settings – use a PIN with random numbers; turn off geo-location services in camera apps and your mobile settings; don’t use apps that tell you where friends are, check you in etc.
– Report it
More information can be found on the Wiltshire Police website: https://www.wiltshire.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/sh/stalking-harassment/what-is-stalking-harassment/
