Sussex Police have welcomed new protocol that has been rolled across the country, which is intended to improve the way in which the criminal justice system deals with cases of stalking and harassment.
This new set of measures, that have been agreed with the CPS and the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), outlines that all cases harassment must be treated as stalking, until sufficient evidence is provided to prove otherwise. It has been acknowledged that when dealing with these cases, it is often more effective to identify patterns of behaviour rather than isolated incidents.
Detective Chief Inspector Pierre Serra has said that this method of dealing with such cases are already part of the training for front-line officers and staff, and that Sussex Police are “glad to see that this is now a nationwide requirement too.”
In addition to this new protocol, extra work has also been done with a national organisation called Paladin, who work to support high risk victims of stalking, in which select officers have been given special training in order to secure a extra level of expertise in dealing with cases of harassment and stalking.
In further measures to improve the way in which cases such as these are dealt with within Sussex, Veritas, a community interest company, have been providing officers with extra training on how spot tell-tale signs of stalking through patterns of behaviour. Additionally, Veritas have extended this training out of just the police force and have also delivered training to voluntary partners across Sussex.
Katy Bourne, Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner, has said “One of my priorities, since taking office in 2012, has been to encourage victims to report all forms of abuse, including serious sexual offences.”
“I want to ensure that every victim receives the care and support they need” – Katy Bourne, Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner
She also went on to say that in all cases, it is vital that the police support victims to the upmost of their ability, and give victims the confidence to report any incidents: “I want to ensure that every victim receives the care and support they need and reassurance that the offender will be brought to justice.”
For further information on the new NPCC protocol see the website.
