More support is being put in place for stalking and harassment victims across Staffordshire – including in Stone – the county’s police and crime commissioner has confirmed.
Ben Adams told the Staffordshire police, fire and crime panel that stalking is an area of “increasing concern” and agreed with experts who see it as a risk factor for murder.
The discussion followed concerns raised by panel member Charlotte Atkins about the low number of stalking protection orders issued in the county. Between October 2022 and September 2023, Staffordshire Police applied for one full order and four interim orders, despite recording 4,156 stalking offences in that time.
Cllr Atkins also questioned whether the force would be recruiting dedicated stalking officers, as highlighted in last year’s stalking action plan.
Mr Adams said work on tackling stalking and domestic abuse was “a bit of a work in progress”, but assured the panel the issue is being taken seriously.
He added: “At the moment the service is looking at domestic abuse and stalking and considering the question of specialist officers in the round. My team are currently tasked to put together a support package for victims of stalking and harassment, which is something we’ve wanted to do for a couple of years. I think I’ve identified the resources to do that.”
He confirmed he would review the force’s record on issuing protection orders at a forthcoming public performance meeting.
Figures from the same report showed that 38 per cent of domestic abuse victims in Staffordshire declined risk assessments. Cllr Atkins said this suggested many victims lacked confidence in the police.
She said: “What is being done to build victim trust and confidence in the police? Because if they’re not going to go through an assessment it implies that they don’t really have confidence that the police are actually going to be able to help them in any real sense.”
Mr Adams said he would look into the figures, and that domestic abuse remains an area of renewed focus for the force.
Annual investment in domestic abuse services in Staffordshire is £3.3 million, with the Commissioner’s Office contributing £1.85 million.
The New Era service, which covers Stone as well as the wider county, provides free and confidential support to victims, perpetrators, families and the community. In the first three months of this year it received 2,100 referrals for adult victims and over 500 referrals for children.
