National Stalking Awareness Day

PEOPLE across Yeovil and South Somerset are being urged by police to ‘know the law and use the law’ when it comes to stalking.

As part of National Stalking Awareness Day on Thursday, April 18, police forces and charities across the country are working to highlight the issue, as well as the signs and the help that is available to all.

Across Avon and Somerset police want everyone to know that stalking and harassment is against the law.

In November the national legislation to tackle stalking changed, giving victims even more protection. It meant that there are now two new specific offences in relation to stalking - stalking and stalking where there is a fear of violence. These have been created to sit alongside existing offences of harassment.

Detective Inspector Katie Boxer, from the force Public Protection Unit, said: "Raising awareness of the crime is imperative in encouraging people to come forward and seek help.

"We know the impact this can have on families and communities can be devastating and can have many effects, so I would encourage you to come forward and seek the help you deserve to protect you from anyone who may want to cause you harm.

"As hard as it may be we would encourage you to keep a diary of the abuse you have suffered. It could be someone has taken your phone, followed you, checked your email or social networking sites, this is wrong and it is a crime."

National statistics have highlighted that 39% partners or ex-partners are offenders of this crime, and in 36% of the cases the victim knows their offender.

But what can be classed as stalking? It may be a combination of:

• Following a person.

• Contacting, or attempting to contact, a person by any means.

• Publishing any statement or other material, relating or pretending to relate to a person, or pretending to originate from a person.

• Monitoring the use by a person of the internet, email or any other form of electronic communication.

• Loitering in any place (whether public or private).

• Interfering with any property in the possession of a person.

• Watching or spying on a person.

If you have been a victim of stalking or harassment then you can contact police on 999 or 101.

For more information – clink on this link: www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/information/Documents/Section.aspx?s=39#DID_7531

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