Cumbria police has launched a stalking and harassment awareness campaign.
The campaign will raise awareness of what the crimes of stalking and harassment are, and the importance of early reporting will be highlighted.
The constabulary have created fictional diary accounts of stalking, based on a combination of reports to police.
They have been created to illustrate how, reporting all behaviour that causes concern, no matter how minor it may seem in isolation, can help evidence the scale of a person’ s stalking behaviour.
The campaign will also provide people with information on:
- The Stalking Protection Bill
- Clare’s Law
- The silent solution system
- The Alice Ruggles Trust’s Services
- The Suzy Lamplugh Trust’s services
- Accessing Support services
Stalking and harassment lead for Cumbria police, Fae Dilks said: “We have launched this awareness campaign, to highlight this important area of crime and keep conversations going.
“People need to know what stalking or harassment are, so they can feel confident in reporting the crime to us.
“Becoming a victim of stalking can happen to anyone, at any time.
“We have created diaries by basing the narrative on a combining of reports of stalking. They take you through the journey of people who are experiencing stalking. There are also notes from the investigating officers.
“Keeping a diary often means that clear details are retained in date and sometimes time order, which can really help us build a picture of a person’s stalking behaviour.
We will be posting the diaries on our social media channels with additional support information.
“Through these diaries the public will be able to see how, even the smallest of details, can help build up the full picture of a person’s stalking behaviour.
“The nature of this type of crime is particularly distressing because the perpetrator is directly targeting a person.
“We take reports of stalking or harassment seriously. All reports are duly investigated with appropriate support and safeguarding considered.
“I would urge anyone who has concerns around stalking or harassment to report them to the police immediately.”
Crime commissioner Peter McCall said: “I can only reiterate the good advice from the police, and would add – please don’t suffer in silence. Please have the confidence to come forward if you have any concerns at all, as the police will take all reports seriously.”
Stalking behaviours include (but not exhaustive):
- contacting/attempting to contact the victim;
- publishing statements or material about the victim;
- monitoring the victim (including online);
- loitering in a public or private place;
- interfering with property;
- watching or spying.
To report a crime:
Visit www.cumbria.police.uk/Reportit for an online reporting form
- Live Web Chat via www.cumbria.police.uk
- Call 101 (non-emergency)
- 999 (emergency)
To report a crime completely anonymously, contact independent charity, CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111.
