Secret toll of male victims of stalkers

THE number of men who report being stalked could be a “drop in the ocean”.

Between 2014 and 2017, there were 1,800 crimes against men, according to 41 out of 46 police forces who replied to a Freedom of Information request.

The FOI by the BBC showed nearly half of these were committed by men.

According to statistics for England and Wales, 1.2 million people are thought to have been stalked in the year ending March 2016 – 450,000 of them men.

Estimates suggest just 15% of crimes are reported.

The Suzy Lamplugh Trust said men made 23% of calls to their helpline, adding: “Reports may just be a drop in the ocean”.

The College of Policing added: “Men report less than women.”