Campaign highlights vital role of stalking victim advocates
EACH year Cheshire Police supports National Stalking Awareness Week in its campaign to raise awareness around a different issue related to stalking.
This year, the national campaign was called Bridging the Gap. It highlighted the vital role that stalking advocates play in bridging the gap between the victim and the criminal justice system.
Cheshire Constabulary’s Harm Reduction Unit (HRU) is an integrated risk management service that specialises in tackling stalking.
Within the unit are two fulltime Specialist Victims’ Advocates, who are accredited Independent Stalking Advocacy Caseworkers, as well as police officers, mental health professionals and probation officers.
The HRU featured in BBC Three’s Stacey Dooley: Stalkers documentary.
To support the national campaign, the HRU, headed by Detective Sergeant David
Thomason, hosted an online conference: Bridging the Cheshire Gap: Specialist Independent Stalking Advocacy Service in Cheshire.
The conference was attended by 100 professionals and was opened by Detective Superintendent Louise Cherrington – Cheshire Constabulary’s Strategic and Regional Lead for Stalking.
The HRU Specialist Victims’ Advocates talked about their experience of working as part of the unique multi-agency team, shared case studies and answered delegates’ questions.
The Victim’s Voice session featured a victim of stalking who has been supported by the Specialist Victims’ Advocates. Delegates heard directly from the victim about their experience followed by a question and answer session.
Next up was Stalking Advocacy and the Police with Alex Beddard - a specialist cybercrime police officer in Cheshire Constabulary’s Cyber Unit.
Alex has worked closely on a case with the constabulary’s stalking advocates. He shared details about his partnership with independent advocates and how it has benefited victims and his investigations.
The conference was closed by Professor Clive Ruggles from the Alice Ruggles Trust.
Tragically, Alice was murdered in Gateshead on October 12, 2016, aged just 24. On April 6, 2017, her stalker was convicted of her murder and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum tariff of 22 years. His controlling behaviour during their relationship had developed into a relentless campaign of stalking.
The Alice Ruggles Trust supports a call for greater investment for independent advocacy for stalking victims.
Following the conference Detective Sergeant David Thomason said: “Today’s event was a poignant reminder of the impact we, as professionals, have when we enter people’s lives, often in the darkest of times.
“Our Specialist Victims’ Advocates are literally lifelines to stalking victims and we have heard from victims in Cheshire today that don’t know how they would have survived without their advocates’ support.
“I’m particularly grateful for all the contributors: Prof Clive Ruggles, Lisa, who was a victim of stalking in Cheshire, and also Denise and Lincoln Townley who all bravely shared their experiences of stalking and are such brilliant ambassadors for specialist stalking advocacy.”