Victims suffering alarm as stalking cases soar

Fife experiences significant increase in number of women seeking help

asking for support around stalking,” she said.

Ms McCance was speaking after a freedom of information request by The Courier revealed Fife was in the grip of a stalking surge, with cases at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court alone more than tripling in the last two years.

The number of people appearing before a sheriff in the town jumped from 22 at the end of 2013 to 72 in 2015.

At Dunfermline Sheriff Court cases more than doubled from 15 to 32.

“Cases of stalking have indeed been on the increase in Fife and we get many calls every week from women asking for support in dealing with perpetrators,” said Ms McCance.

“Stalking can take many forms. In addition to following or watching a woman, it can also include such intrusive behaviours as verbal abuse and public humiliation, unwanted letters and texts, Twitter trolling, the spreading of rumours, threatening a victim’s family or even their pets and physical violence.

“Stalking curtails a victim’s freedom and causes significant alarm and distress.”

Ms McCance urged women who feared they were being stalked to keep a diary of their experiences.

“I would really encourage women to record everything that happens and then report it because what they want to do is build a case,” she said.

“If you can establish a pattern of behaviour you can get your lawyer to apply for a non-harassment order which has powers of arrest attached.”

Fife Women’s Aid believes more women have been willing to report crimes following the Scottish Government’s introduction of a specific stalking law in 2010.

“That’s had a real impact on women’s confidence to report it because the law now defines what stalking is and the police understand much better what is upsetting them.

“Sheriffs are treating it as unacceptable as well, which is to be welcomed.”

Anyone in Fife affected by stalking can contact Fife Women’s Aid 24 hours a day on 0808 802 5555 for confidential support.

Picture: Steven Brown. From left: independent services team leader Rosemary Henry, support worker Alison Sexton and Ellen McCance fundraising and communications worker, all from Fife Women’s Aid.