CARLA TALBOT

Behind the investigations into some of the most serious crimes in Renfrewshire is a specialist team of police officers trained to support the most vulnerable victims.

The Public Protection Unit, which is based in Paisley, has dozens of officers stationed in units which deal with harrowing crimes, involving sexual assault, domestic abuse, child abuse and monitoring sex offenders.

They work round the clock to target predators, investigating hundreds of crimes each year throughout K Division. According to Police Scotland figures, cops in Renfrewshire dealt with 438 sexual crimes between April 2021 and March 2022, including 93 rapes and attempted rapes, 159 sexual assaults and 28 crimes related to domestic abuse.

However, as well as tackling crime head on, the PPU also works behind the scenes to raise awareness of the crimes they deal with every day.

Today marks the beginning of National Stalking Awareness Week, which runs until April 29, and aims to highlight the dangers of stalking and the impact it can have on those who experience it.

Officers at the PPU Domestic Abuse Unit regularly deal with issues surrounding stalking, which is commonly linked with crimes of domestic abuse.

Almost a quarter of women in Scotland have been victims of stalking, according to research by a leading charity

The survey also found that 68 per cent of men and women who were victims of stalking said it had a moderate to huge impact on their mental health.

Action Against Stalking (AAS), the victim support charity, spoke to 1,970 men and women in Scotland to understand the extent of the problem. It found that 23 per cent of women reported being targeted with fixated, obsessive, unwanted and repeated behaviour at some point, but only 24 per cent of those had reported it to police.

Detective chief inspector Mark McLennan, who heads up the Public Protection Unit said officers are there to provide to support to those who believe they are a victim of stalking even if no official reports are made.

He said:“What we want to do first of all is get the message out there that stalking is a serious crime.

“We are looking to get people to understand that unwanted messaging, repeated obsessive behaviour is something which is a concern and should be taken seriously.

“There are a lot of agencies out there who can provide support and advice to people who may be experiencing this.

“It doesn’t always have to be the case where it is officially reported.

“If anyone is concerned about the behaviour of an individual, they can contact in confidentially and we have specially trained officers who can help as well as direct them to agencies.

“We want people to know that they don’t have to go through it alone.”

It is the PPU’s Domestic

Abuse Unit that investigates issues related to stalking.

Domestic abuse can involve physical violence, where the perpetrator harms someone, leaving visible marks and scars.

However, stalking is a type of abuse that leaves no marks or scars but can cause victims to experience fear and loss of freedom.

Stalking does not just occur when a person leaves a relationship. Victims can be stalked while still in a relationship with a controlling partner.

This can make separation very difficult. The growth of social media has also meant that officers are having to work even harder.

He added:“People are so much more accessible now than they have ever been because of social media.

“We have seen a huge shift towards cyber crime in recent years.

“People need to realise that when they are doing things like harassing people online by sending repeated messages, they are still subject to criminal law.

“We will pursue people who use this as a form of stalking.”

The Covid-19 pandemic also had an impact on how officers delivered services.

A number of support charities voiced fears during lockdown over the safety of those experiencing abuse.

Renfrewshire Women’s Aid experienced a rise in women seeking support, having recorded a shocking 60 per cent increase in referrals between March and April 2020.

DCI McLennan added:“It was really challenging for everyone.

“We had to take a number of steps to ensure we let people know, particularly during lockdown, that officers were still here to support people.

“Because of the lockdown conditions, crimes were shifting into private spaces, which is where the type of crimes such as domestic abuse and sexual crimes take place.

“But officers in the unit have been here the entire time and operating as normally as possible and will continue to be here to support those who need it.”

Renfrewshire Women’s Aid is a local organisation which regularly supports women who are victims of stalking.

In one harrowing incident, a young woman in Elderslie had her car set alight by a former partner as part of his terrifying stalking bid.

Rae Gilbert, manager of the Paisley charity said figures related to stalking are very similar to those of domestic abuse, showing the two go“hand in hand”.

She said:“Stalking is something that we see regularly, particularly in a wider campaign of abuse from former and current partners of the women we support.

“It is a huge risk and to see that one in four women experience stalking is the same statistic as the women who experience domestic abuse.

“If you are concerned, speak to police and take note of every communication .

“We are here alongside police to support women who feel they are a victim of stalking.”