Tuesday 23rd April 2024

Sussex Alerts - Sussex Police joins national Stalking Awareness Week

National Stalking Awareness Week

This week (22 – 28 April), we are joining forces across the county for National Stalking Awareness Week – helping you spot the signs of stalking, what to do if you are a victim and highlighting the help that is available.

Falling victim to a stalker is a terrifying experience, which is why Sussex Police and its partners are so committed to protecting victims, catching perpetrators and doing all we can to stop the devastating cycle of behaviour.

Stalking can take many forms. It could be in-person – following someone in the street, turning up at their home, leaving them unwanted gifts; or it could be online – obsessive behaviour on social media or repeated calls, texts and emails.

Wherever it happens, any kind of persistent, unwanted contact that causes distress is stalking, and is unacceptable.

Sussex Police has an award-winning team dedicated to tackling stalking: the Complex Domestic Abuse and Stalking Unit (CDASU).

While catching perpetrators and protecting victims is the number one priority, what happens after an offender is caught is vital.

As well as prison sentences, offenders can receive various orders to manage their behaviour, including restraining orders, stalking protection orders (SPOs) and sexual harm prevention orders (SHPOs) if appropriate.

Sussex Police is a leading force in SPOs. They stop perpetrators from undertaking some activities, like entering certain areas or contacting their victims directly or indirectly.

They can also be forced to surrender devices or carry our rehabilitation activity to address the root causes of their behaviour and bring about long-term change.

We are one of the few forces who can make it compulsory for recipients of SPOs to be fitted with GPS monitoring tags, called Buddi Tags. 

Buddi Tags are fitted to an offender’s ankle and use GPS tracking to give regular updates on their location. Automatic exclusion zones can be set, such as the area around a victim’s home, schools, parks and other locations.

They allow offender managers to monitor perpetrators, and crucially give victims peace of mind, knowing their stalker is nowhere near them.

Victims are also given specialist support by one of our partners, such as Veritas Justice, during and after the criminal process.

Throughout this week, police and other organisations will be sharing information on how to spot stalking and what help is available.

If you or someone you know is being subjected to fixated, unwanted attention, please report it to us online or via 101. Always dial 999 in an emergency.

Detective Sergeant Kerri Bartup said: “Stalking behaviour is extremely distressing in itself,  but it can also escalate into violence, sexual offending and other serious harm.

“That is why it’s so important for victims to report any concerns as early as possible. Stalking victims on average will encounter 100 incidents before reporting it – that is far too many.

“We have the tools, the determination and the dedicated team to keep you safe if you are a victim of stalking.

“If someone’s behaviour is obsessive and unwanted, please report it to us. You won’t be wasting our time, we will understand, we will believe you and we will protect you.

“Report online, via 101 or by calling 999 in an emergency.”

For more information on stalking and harassment, and how to contact our partners for support, visit Stalking and harassment | Sussex Police