Stalking has been the focus of renewed attention following recent Netflix drama Baby Reindeer and a new review has laid bare the scale of the problem.
A man who was stalked for 27 years says police “laughed” at him when he first reported it – as a damning new report lays bare the need for “urgent action” to tackle the crime.
Almost two thirds of stalking suspects in London have offended before, according to research published by the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC).
The report also found more than 80% of reports made by victims aren’t initially classified as stalking – and instead recorded as domestic abuse or harassment.
Separate figures show one in five women in the UK will experience stalking, while one in 10 men will also fall victim.
Among the men who have suffered from stalking is John, who wanted to remain anonymous and withhold his real name having been a victim for 27 years.
He told Sky News police “laughed” and “smirked” when he first reported stalking, which he described as “constant”.
“I’ll never forget what they said to me when I walked in,” he said.
“I went there, told them, ‘I’ve got this woman buzzing my house constantly… (sitting) in the pub looking at me, wanting to get my attention, what do I do?’
“They laughed, smirked behind the screen and said, ‘look mate, all you’ve got to do is tell the girl to go away’. I said I’ve done that.
Stalking has been the focus of renewed attention following recent Netflix drama Baby Reindeer, which John turned off after just a few minutes as it was too close to home.
His stalker is waiting for sentencing in court and he hopes she will face a long time a prison.
“I don’t think it will ever stop until I move from where I’m living,” he said.
“Once she gets sentenced – I hope it’s a long one – I feel like I can actually start to make some changes.”
The review by MOPAC found nearly half of reports classified as stalking by police end up with a victim withdrawing from the case, while 41% are dropped by police often citing a lack of evidence.
Of the stalkers prosecuted, three quarters are charged with a lesser stalking offence carrying a minimum of six months in prison.
‘System has become complicit’
London’s victims’ commissioner Claire Waxman is calling for wholesale reform of stalking legislation, adding the research shows “too many stalkers are able to evade justice” and young people are “learning to cope with unwanted attention”.
“Stalking victims have been failed for far too long by a criminal justice system that is still struggling to identify and understand stalking,” she said.
“Sadly, the system has become complicit in allowing stalking cases to escalate.
“Confusing legislation is hampering the police’s ability to build strong cases, enabling stalkers to act with impunity and leaving victims at risk.”
Emma Lingley-Clark, interim chief executive of stalking charity the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, said the findings show the need for “urgent action” from the new government and all agencies to “improve the response for stalking victims”.