New centre aiming to help prevent stalking

A Scottish university is to establish a centre to focus on preventing stalking.

The project will conduct research into the issue as well as studying coercion and control on children and young people, the motivations of perpetrators and cyber-stalking.

The University of the West of Scotland will run the initiative in partnership with charity Action Against Stalking (AAS).

It will be unveiled at an online international conference on the problem to take place from April 20-22 during National Stalking Awareness Week.

The Dynamics Between the Stalker and the Victim summit will bring together global experts from police bodies, universities and charities.

Ross Deuchar, professor of criminology and criminal justice at the university, will be interim director of the centre.

He said: “I’m delighted to be involved in the launch of the new centre for Action Against Stalking – an international centre against abusive and harmful behaviour.

“I am pleased that we are able to launch the centre as part of the firstever international stalking conference, which brings together world-leading stalking experts for a groundbreaking three-day event.”

Ann Moulds, founder of AAS, said stalking can “happen to anyone, any age, anywhere”. She added: “Having held two UK conferences on stalking, AAS is delighted to join forces with the University of the West of Scotland in this first-ever international conference and summit on stalking.”