Newly released figures from the Home Office showed that there were more than 3,000 stalking offences were recorded by Avon and Somerset police in 2021, compared to 2,778 in 2020. The equivalent of around nine stalking offences a day were recorded last year across Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Bath and North East Somerset (BANES) and Somerset.
In Bristol, 1,049 stalking offences were recorded, which at 2.3 per 1,000 residents was the highest rate in the southwest region. This was closely followed by North Somerset with a 2.0 offence rating. Separate figures show that of 3,169 stalking cases closed by Avon and Somerset police in 2021, 122 (4 per cent) resulted in a suspect being charged – lower than the 8 per cent charge rate for all crimes.
A further 1,885 (59 per cent) of stalking cases were closed after the alleged victim did not support further action, compared to 35 per cent recorded for all crime types.
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Breakdown of stalking offences in 2021
Some 3,362 stalking offences were recorded by Avon and Somerset police in 2021 compared to 2,778 in 2020 and 823 in 2019.
However, the Home Office said figures for 2021 were not comparable with previous years due to a change in police recording practices, leading to a rise in the number of cases logged as stalking.
What does it mean to stalk somebody?
Stalking is defined as a pattern of repeated, unwanted behaviour that causes someone to feel distressed or scared.
It could include sending regular gifts or unwanted messages but may also involve physical and sexual assault.
According to stalking charity the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, the majority of people who contact its helpline have been stalked by an ex-partner or someone they know.
The Trust now calls for extra funding for trained specialists to support victims of stalking, which it says will help improve charge and conviction rates.
Dame Vera Baird QC, victim’s commissioner for England and Wales, has backed the charity’s call for these dedicated “stalking advocates”.
She said: “Stalking is a dangerous and insidious crime and the impact on the victim can be devastating. Yet all too often, victims are not receiving the criminal justice outcomes that might be expected, underlining the need for specialist stalking support.”
More than 300 stalking offences per day in England and Wales
Across England and Wales, stalking offences were equivalent to more than 300 every day with police recording more than 117,000 stalking offences last year.
Around 109,000 stalking cases closed by police across the two nations over the period, 7,069 (7 per cent) resulted in a charge or summons – similar to the overall charge rate of 8 per cent. But 57,402 (53 per cent) were closed after the alleged victim did not support further action, compared to 29 per cent for all crimes.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “Stalking is an insidious crime that leaves many victims psychologically distressed. The Government takes its response to stalking extremely seriously, which is why we have tripled our funding to the National Stalking Helpline, introduced Stalking Protection Orders and doubled the maximum sentence for stalking from five to 10 years.
“Our Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy also focuses on increasing support for survivors, bringing perpetrators to justice and prioritising prevention.
“That is why we’re improving our systems to better identify the risk perpetrators pose, and enabling more effective data sharing between the police and other frontline agencies so that potential stalkers are stopped from being able to harm innocent victims.”
