Stalking or harassment
Part of: Police engagement with women and girls Protecting people from violence and abuse Victims and resolutions
Stalking and harassment crimes can devastate lives and in some cases they end in death. They are crimes of persistence. And, in a digital world, these crimes can take place all too easily and frequently.
For these reasons we have conducted specific thematic inspections.
We also examine how forces respond to these crimes as part of our PEEL inspection programme.
Our inspections
Living in fear – the police and CPS response to harassment and stalking – 5 July 2017
Together with HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate we carried out an inspection into the police and the Crown Prosecution Service response to harassment and stalking crimes. It had a particular focus on victims’ experiences.
These experiences are included in the report and in the research report that we commissioned the University of Worcester to carry out.
Sussex Police response to stalking and harassment – 10 April 2019
Sussex Police was one of six forces we inspected as part of our 2017 harassment and stalking inspection report.
Following several concerns raised in the report, the police and crime commissioner for Sussex requested that we return to carry out a follow up inspection of Sussex Police in 2018.
Super-complaint investigation and report
Super-complaint on the police response to stalking – 27 September 2024
On 24 November 2022 we received a super-complaint from the Suzy Lamplugh Trust. This super-complaint is about the police response to victims of stalking.
Following a joint investigation, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS), the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), and the College of Policing have made recommendations to the Home Office, National Police Chiefs’ Council, chief constables, police and crime commissioners (or equivalents), the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, the Ministry of Justice, and the Crown Prosecution Service. We will add updates on how these bodies respond to our recommendations to GOV.UK.
We have published an annex report about HMICFRS fieldwork to support the investigation.
HMICFRS will provide an update on follow up activity it undertakes that is relevant to this super-complaint.
Getting help
If you, or someone you know, is affected by any of these issues, help is available.
You will find the website addresses and/or telephone numbers of organisations that give help and support for people affected by stalking or harassment below.
National Stalking Helpline: 0808 802 0300
The National Stalking Helpline is run by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust. Calls are free of charge from all landline telephones and also from mobiles on all major networks. Calls will not be shown on BT landline bills.
Paladin National Advocacy Service: 0203 866 4107
Paladin National Advocacy Service is the only trauma informed national advocacy service for victims of stalking. They have independent stalking advocate caseworkers who can help if you need specialist advice or support.
You can also contact:
- Protection Against Stalking
- Women’s Aid – Live chat or by email
- Men’s advice line – Helpline 0808 8010 327
If you wish to report incidents of stalking or harassment, please contact your police force directly.