Dorset Police is here for victims of stalking
Investigators are backing a national action plan to improve support for stalking victims.
As the Force marks national Stalking Awareness Week, Dorset Police is highlighting its commitment to building on national learning to provide a better response to victims. Efforts are also taking place locally to focus on perpetrator behaviour and put a stop to the cycle of offending.
In 2022 the Suzy Lamplugh Trust submitted a super complaint on behalf of the National Stalking Consortium, raising concerns around policing’s response to stalking at a national level.
National policing bodies, including the College of Policing and National Police Chiefs’ Council, have been coordinating work across policing to implement a number of recommendations that arose out of the super complaint and progress is being made to implement the action plan in Dorset.
Work has been done at a local level to set out clear investigative pathways and guidance for officers, as well as close liaison with partners, that remains ongoing to ensure a coordinated and victim-focussed response.
Alongside this, the Force has also been working with local authority partners at BCP Council and the Safer BCP Partnership to focus on perpetrator behaviour – with the core aim being to prevent stalking behaviour.
This has resulted in funding for the introduction to Dorset of the Compulsive Obsessive Behaviour Intervention (COBI) programme. COBI is an intensive, forensic psychologist led, behavioural intervention designed specifically to generate desistance from stalkers. This intervention will be targeted at the highest risk and most persistent stalkers in the county.
Detective Superintendent Helen Deakin, Dorset Police’s Head of Public Protection, said: “We recognise stalking is a complex and high risk crime, which requires a coordinated and consistent response.
“We welcome the national action plan in response to the Suzy Lamplugh super complaint and the clear direction it provides to further strengthen our work to protect victims and manage perpetrators.
“As well as supporting victims and robustly tackling offences when they do occur, we also recognise the need to work with our partners to intervene early when signs of stalking behaviour start to develop.
“Through this work we can prevent further offending and ultimately provide further protection to victims.
“We are committed to supporting all those affected by stalking and harassing behaviour and acknowledge that all genders and people from all walks of life can become victims of this crime.
“Stalking is often marked by a pattern of fixated, obsessive, unwanted and repeated behaviour.
“We want to make it clear that any kind of persistent, unwanted contact that causes distress is not acceptable and we would urge anyone who has any concerns to please contact us so that we can take action and offer support.”
Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner David Sidwick said: “Stalking can have a devastating and long-lasting impact on victims, so it is vital they receive the right support at the earliest opportunity.
“In Dorset, I am committed to ensuring victims do not face this alone. Through the services my office commissions, including specialist support and Independent Stalking Advocacy Caseworker (ISAC) service delivered by You Trust/Paragon, we are strengthening the help available locally.
“The ISAC service is an essential lifeline, which ensures victims’ voices are not only heard but truly understood. They work closely with Dorset Police, guiding victims through the criminal justice process, and offer ongoing practical and emotional support to help keep people safe.
“Working closely with Dorset Police and our partners, I remain utterly committed to improving outcomes for victims, ensuring perpetrator behaviour is challenged and appropriately tackled, and crucially, that those affected by stalking are heard, protected and supported.”
If you or anyone you know has been the victim of stalking or harassment, contact Dorset Police online or by calling 101. If a crime is in progress, always dial 999.
For more information on how to report stalking and harassment and organisations that can offer support visit www.dorset.police.uk/stalking.