Charity urges Dorset Police to take stalking seriously

Anti-stalking trusts have lodged a super complaint against Dorset Police over their handling of stalking cases. 

National charities have often criticised police inaction when investigating harassment cases, with a study from the Suzy Lamplugh Trust in 2022 finding only 1.4% of reports of stalking ended in the stalker being convicted.

An outreach charity, Paragon, has marked October’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month by educating people on behaviours in abusive relationships.

Tonia Redvers, director at Paragon, said the charity has been involved in ordering the complaint against the police.

She said: “We have put a lot of work, with the help of some local trusts, to encourage the police to take stalking cases more seriously.”

The Alice Ruggles Trust, set up by the mother of a young woman who was murdered by her stalker in 2016, launched the super complaint earlier this month.

The process of reporting any kind of abuse reported to Paragon involves speaking about their experiences, filling in a risk assessment form and working with the person to make them safer within their environment.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month, marked every October by charities and organisations across the UK, also highlights the importance of campaigning against inter-family relationships and stalking crimes.

Paragon often work with the police to gather evidence and issue non-molestation orders, but campaigners have long since called for better consideration of stalking victims by police forces.

Mrs Redvers added: “We are always learning from each other and those subject to violence and abuse by keeping our responses fluid.

“People are still learning and developing their awareness of behaviours in domestic abuse, and the only way forward is through taking action by campaigning and getting involved in awareness events.”

The super complaint is currently awaiting a response from the police which would usually take 56 days to come through.