Charities and police chiefs have urged victims to report their “life-changing” experiences amid a national rise in stalking crimes.

During the first year of the coronavirus pandemic, police forces across the region logged more than 8,000 stalking cases.

Read more: Horror as firefighters rush to rescue girl, 9, who fell 15ft into beck

And Home Office statistics show an additional 4,500 were recorded between April and September last year, the most recent figures available.

Picture: NORTHERN ECHO

Worrying figures

They are among more than 19,000 such cases logged by Cleveland Police, Durham Constabulary, Northumbria Police and North Yorkshire Police since recording began in the year of 2014-15.

Read more: Teen banned from town after alleged stalking

However, despite increased reporting and efforts to improve the policing of the problem, just a fraction of cases investigated will end before the courts.

More than four out of five investigations (84 percent) closed by North East forces in 2020-21 were dropped due to difficulties in gathering evidence, according to analysis by The Echo and RADAR.

They include 2,911 cases dropped after a victim withdrew support for the investigation.

Just 600 of the 8,477 cases – 7 percent – closed in that time resulted in a charge or summons being issued.

That included 92 cases in the Cleveland Police force area (8 percent of closed investigations), 139 in Durham (6 percent), 105 in North Yorkshire (7 percent) and 273 (8 percent) in Northumbria.

Nationally, nearly 100,000 stalking offences were reported to police in 2020-21 – the first year of new guidance requiring all cases of harassment reported between ex-partners to be recorded as stalking, unless the police were satisfied stalking was not a factor.

In comparison, there were 33,006 stalking crimes the previous year.

The National Police Chiefs' Council lead for stalking and harassment, Deputy Chief Constable Paul Mills, said improved police response, increased reporting and more understanding of the extent of stalking behaviour had contributed to the national rise.

But the Suzy Lamplugh Trust says while recent changes in law and procedures may have influenced the stark rise, stalking remains significantly underreported.

Read more: Stalker fitted tracking device to woman's car

And Violet Alvarez, from the charity, said it was dealing with an increased number of distressed clients requiring greater support since the outbreak of Covid-19, along with a rise in cyberstalking.

What forces in the region have said

During the first year of the pandemic, Cleveland Police recorded 1,232 stalking cases, Durham Constabulary recorded 2,455, North Yorkshire Police 972 and Northumbria Police 3,662.

Picture: NORTHERN ECHO

Ms Alvarez urged victims to come forward for support, adding: "Stalking is an incredibly prevalent crime with one in five women and one in ten men experiencing stalking in their lifetimes."

DC Mills said the NPCC was working closely with the Crown Prosecution Service to improve criminal justice outcomes for victims, adding: “Stalking and harassment are serious crimes which can have a devastating effect on the lives of victims and their friends and family.

"The police service is committed to doing everything possible to bring offenders to justice."

Inspector Clare Crossan, lead for North Yorkshire Police's stalking support team, said the force was taking all necessary steps to ensure victims are safeguarded.

She urged victims not to suffer in silence, adding: "Stalking is a manipulative crime and in many cases, victims may not realise that the behaviour of a perpetrator is a criminal offence.

"If a stalker’s behaviour remains unchecked, it may escalate, and in many cases this has resulted in serious violence or worse.

"That’s why it’s so important for victims to come forward to the police."

• Return tomorrow for part two of the Echo's investigation into stalking, which will reveal just how rarely forces across the region are using new powers to tackle the crime.
• On Saturday, part three will see the mother of murdered Alice Ruggles share her heartbreaking story of losing a daughter at the hands of an obsessed stalker.

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