Stalking is a pervasive issue affecting a significant portion of the population, with one in seven individuals aged over 16 having experienced stalking at least once. The Crime Survey for England and Wales indicates that an estimated one in five women and one in 11 men aged 16 and above have fallen victim to stalking, defined as two or more distressing, alarming incidents. The forms of stalking range from receiving threatening communications to being followed or watched, often causing profound psychological and mental health impacts. Alarmingly, younger women and girls are particularly vulnerable, with one in 10 women aged 16-19 having experienced stalking in the past year, as well as one in 15 men of the same age group.
The gravity of the situation is further underscored by the fact that police records show over 600,000 cases of stalking and harassment in the year ending September 2024, a figure which likely underrepresents the true prevalence due to underreporting. Notably, specific regions such as Bradford, Kingston-upon-Hull, and North East Lincolnshire exhibited particularly high rates of stalking incidents, highlighting regional disparities.
Coinciding with National Stalking Awareness Week, the Suzy Lamplugh Trust has shed light on the profound impact of stalking on victims' mental health, with 95% of victims reporting its lasting effects. Astonishingly, 78% of victims exhibit symptoms consistent with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), yet only a quarter receive assessments for this condition. Despite victims seeking help from healthcare services, professionals often lack the necessary training and resources to effectively recognize and address stalking, as revealed by the trust’s research and Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to NHS Integrated Care Boards in England.
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The Suzy Lamplugh Trust has initiated the “Health Response: Spotting Stalking” campaign, urging healthcare professionals to familiarize themselves with specialist stalking services in order to better support victims. Additionally, the National Stalking Consortium, in conjunction with the Trust, is advocating for increased government funding to provide comprehensive support for stalking victims and to establish a unified “whole health” response to stalking. Both organizations emphasize the crucial role of healthcare professionals as the initial point of contact for many victims, emphasizing the need for their ability to confidently identify and refer victims to specialist support.
In light of these challenges, Suky Bhaker, CEO of the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, and Daniel W. Price-Jones, Lead Consultant Forensic Psychologist at Cheshire Constabulary’s Harm Reduction Unit, emphasize the fundamental importance of healthcare professionals in this fight against stalking, highlighting the pressing need for enhanced training, resources, and governmental support.