To Chief Constables: By 27 March 2025, where required, seek changes to their crime recording systems to enable staff and officers to document and search for crimes not recorded as the principal crime, as included classifications on crime records.

Processes should be put in place to make sure this system capability is effectively used by officers and staff.

While any necessary system changes are pending, chief constables should put alternative measures in place to make sure stalking and related offences are fully searchable. This could, for example, be the submission of intelligence reports.

Our action

By March 25, we will ensure our crime recording system allows for associated crimes to be listed in a way that is searchable therefore enabling our workforce to search for and document crimes not recorded as the principal crime ie: stalking.

Pending completion of action above, we will put interim measures in place to ensure stalking and related offences are fully searchable on internal systems.

Recommendation 10

To Chief Constables: By 27 March 2025, review and update their learning and training provision relating to stalking so it:

• Meets the learning outcomes on stalking within the public protection national policing curriculum.
• Makes appropriate use of the stalking or harassment e-learning product developed by the College of Policing.
• Uses the skills and knowledge of local victim advocates or others from outside policing with relevant expertise.
• Includes information on relevant local policies and practice where necessary.
• Is provided to the officers and staff who will most benefit from the learning.

Chief constables should also make sure that their policies and practice are reviewed and updated in accordance with the findings in the super-complaint investigation report.

Our action

Our policies and procedures will be reviewed within agreed timeframes, in light of any changes to legislation, public protection national policing curriculum, and any other drivers, including the findings of the super-complaint investigation report.

We will develop a training package specifically regarding Stalking Protection Orders for all supervisors.

Learning and Development will maintain an up-to-date list of officer’s skills and training received in relation to Stalking.

To Chief Constables: By 27 March 2025, make sure that appropriate mechanisms are in place to fully understand the scale and types of stalking behaviour within their force and the effectiveness of their response. This should align with the VAWG national delivery framework. Mechanisms should include:

• Problem profiles using police data and intelligence and other sources of information to ensure that the full extent of stalking is well understood. This could include information sharing with local victims' services and other public services, and national and local statistics.
• Regular assurance work such as audits to better understand the force response and make improvements where appropriate, including monitoring the use of SPOs, investigation outcomes and the quality of investigations.
• Ways to regularly receive feedback from victims, such as victim surveys.
• Force management statements which reflect current and future demand from stalking.

Our action

We will develop a Stalking Problem Profile which identifies perpetrators / victims / locations.

Assurance data such as findings from audits and other dip-sampling relating to Stalking will be evaluated and lessons learnt published via the Intranet and wider as appropriate.

Information will be shared on NYP intranet and website and for audit findings and published reports will be highlighted and accessible for wider scrutiny.

We will explore opportunities to gather feedback from stalking victims, particularly non-Domestic Abuse related.

The current and future demand of stalking will be outlined in our Force Management Statement.

To Chief Constables: By 27 March 2025, take steps to make sure that risk identification, assessment and management is effective in all stalking and breaches of orders cases, including by:

• Considering implementing the stalking screening tool to support the identification of stalking and the risks associated with stalking.
• Having clear policies and procedures in place for assessing and managing risk in all cases. And where appropriate, embedding recognised risk assessment tools in force systems so that it is easy for officers to access, use and document their consideration of risk and safeguarding.
• Recognising (in policies, guidance and training) the heightened risk associated with breaches of protective orders and measures.
• Implementing screening and checking processes to support the early identification, assessment and management of high-risk cases. This may require stalking and breach of order cases to be considered at daily management meetings.

Our action

We will develop a plan for the implementation of Stalking Screening Tool (SST), ensuring the training and communications plans are aligned.

We will monitor and gather intelligence from police and other sources/partners to ensure repeat, serial and high-harm offender profiles remain current, and discussed at daily management meetings as required.

We will utilise the local and force tasking and coordination process to drive actions designed to disrupt and pursue high-harm stalking perpetrators, including positive action taken for breaches where applicable.

We will maximise use of performance and quality assurance data to identify good practice and lessons learnt.

To Chief Constables: By 27 March 2025, take steps to make sure that force strategies, structures and processes are in place so that police consider a Stalking Protection Order (SPO) in every stalking case, and apply for an SPO where relevant and appropriate to prevent harm and further offending. To achieve this, chief constables should review, and revise where necessary:

• Local training and guidance on SPOs, including training and guidance for supervisors.
• Mechanisms for supporting investigating officers to identify cases where SPOs would be appropriate and assisting them with SPO applications. This could be through dedicated teams or roles and/or through daily management meetings considering risk and safeguarding.

Our action

Stalking Protection Orders (SPO) will be considered for every stalking case and rationale provided where this is not pursued.  Where a SPO is not applicable, other measures will be considered.

Training and guidance on SPOs will be delivered to supervisors.

To Chief Constables: By 27 March 2025, take steps to make sure stalking victims receive the rights they are entitled to under the victims’ code and have access to support services. Chief constables should make sure:

• Victim needs assessments are always completed.
• Their force has appropriate processes to make sure all stalking victims are told about their rights and under the victims' code.
• Information about the national and specialist stalking support services available in their force area is easily available to police officers and staff, victims, and the general public.
• Victims who would like to receive support are referred to an appropriate service in a timely manner.
• They monitor the number of stalking victims who are referred to specialist support services and take action when referral numbers are low.

Our action

We will maintain and monitor use of existing protective measures, reviewing quarterly data on effectiveness.

We will ensure all stalking victims are informed of their rights under the Victims Code and needs assessments will be completed in every case and at the earliest opportunity.

Assurance data such as findings from thematic testing, quality assurance audits and other dip-sampling relating to Stalking will be evaluated and lessons learnt published via the Intranet and wider as appropriate.

We will ensure that no crime is closed without the victim first being informed of their Right to Review the decision to finalise a crime. 

Victim referrals will be submitted following all stalking incidents, which will inform safety planning and signposting to support services.

To Chief Constables, PCCs and their mayor equivalents: By 27 March 2025, work together to review commissioning arrangements and make changes as soon as possible to ensure they embed collaborative working and information sharing between policing and services providing victim support to stalking victims.

Our action

Officers and staff will complete safeguarding referrals in compliance with force guidelines, ensuring that information is shared with the appropriate service to safeguard the victim.  Compliance rates will be monitored and reported via the Force Performance Framework.

We will gather and review monthly data on information sharing and safety planning for stalking victims (both DA and non-DA related) including repeat incidents, to ensure safeguarding is effective and fully collaborative.

To Chief Constables: By 27 March 2025, make sure the new College of Policing investigations APP content on case allocation is reflected in the relevant policies relating to the allocation of stalking and breach of order cases for investigation.

Force policies should support the allocation of stalking cases to officers with the right skills and experience, taking into account the potential risk and complexity involved in stalking and breach of order cases.

Our action

We will continually check that our force allocation and investigation procedure remains fully compliant, thus ensuring that officers with the right skills are investigating stalking offences. 

We will ensure the findings of the Suzy Lamplugh Super Complaint are reflected in policies / procedures.

To Chief Constables: By 27 March 2025, take steps to improve the quality of stalking investigations by taking a victim centred, suspect focussed and context led approach. Chief Constables should make sure:

• Their workforce has the capacity and capability to undertake effective stalking investigations and can apply new and innovative investigation techniques to pursue digital lines of enquiry.
• All reasonable lines of enquiry are pursued, supported by good supervision.
• Arrest and search powers are used to gather evidence from and about suspects.
• The impact on victims is evidenced in witness statements, so it can be used to inform charging decisions and improve the likelihood of successful investigation outcomes.

Our action

Our Learning and Development department will produce an outline of those courses delivered in force that include a stalking element (including digital lines of enquiry), by way of a baseline which can be further reviewed, and any gaps identified.

We will review and update learning and training provision in relation to stalking as outlined in Rec 10 of Police Response to the Super Complaint.  For example, learning outcomes meet national public protection policing curriculum; utilises e-learning product by College of Policing, and uses local victim advocates and other experts.

We will continually check that our force allocation and investigation procedure remains fully compliant, thus ensuring that officers with the right skills are investigating stalking offences. 

Special Measures will be considered for Stalking victims, which will be monitored via an assessment process yet to be agreed.

We will ensure impact on stalking victims is captured via a Victim Personal Statement at appropriate stages of the investigation (eg, at the outset, post-charge and post-conviction/pre- sentencing).

To Chief Constables: By, 27 March 2025, take steps to improve how their force effectively recognises and responds to online elements of stalking. This should include making sure:

• The scale and nature of online stalking behaviours informs their strategic understanding of, and the response to, stalking.
• Examples of online stalking are included in locally produced training and guidance material about stalking.
• Clear online safety advice is available to officers and staff, drawing on the College of Policing APP on stalking or harassment when it is developed.
• Appropriate tools, technologies and support services to digitally safeguard victims are procured and officers and staff use these resources when appropriate.

Our action

In order to identify the scale and nature of stalking - specifically online stalking – we will explore the creation and use of an 'online' stalking flag on Niche for victims and perpetrators, ensuring officers and staff are made aware of when it is to be used.

Stalking procedures and training provisions will include information / advice on online stalking behaviours.

Subject matter experts will undertake victim safety planning, area visits and advice as required.

We will procure tools, technologies, and support services to digitally safeguard victims and utilise appropriately.

To Chief Constables: By 27 September 2025, using the information collated by the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead under recommendation 21, to consider whether and how dedicated stalking officers and staff, or other subject matter experts, can be used to add value and support the force response to stalking.

Our action

We will review the feedback from recommendation 21 from NPCC and consider any necessary changes / best practice which will add value and support the force response to stalking.

To Chief Constables: By 27 March 2025, implement a mechanism for early screening of crimes to improve the identification, recording and management of all stalking cases.

Forces should consider screening crimes similar to stalking or where stalking behaviours may be present as part of a course of conduct, like harassment, malicious communications and breaches of orders.

Our action

We will plan for the implementation of the Stalking Screening Tool (SST), ensuring training and communication plan are aligned.

To chief constables and police and crime commissioners and their mayor equivalents: By 27 March 2025, explore opportunities to improve how their force works with partners to contribute to a multi-agency response to stalking. This should include considering:

• How the force works in partnership with healthcare, the CPS, probation services and other criminal justice partners to manage stalking perpetrators and address their behaviour.
• Whether and how they should collaborate with other forces to effectively and efficiently contribute to multi-agency partnerships on stalking.
• How multi-agency public protection arrangements (MAPPA) are being used to effectively manage stalking offenders.

Our action

We will further develop a multi-agency risk assessment meeting for high-risk stalking perpetrators.

We will further develop stalking perpetrator profiles for high-risk offenders, with associated plans accessible to frontline officers.

We will explore opportunities to work with partners and other forces to manage stalking perpetrators and address their behaviour.

We will support existing multi-agency processes to manage high-harm offenders, ensuring that offenders are managed at the most appropriate level.

We will further develop the multi-agency meetings, securing attendance and full engagement from appropriate agencies, including NYP.

By 22 November 2024 (56 days from publication), write to HMICFRS, the IOPC and the College of Policing setting out their response to the recommendations made to them.

Chief constables should direct their response to the NPCC which should provide a collective response on behalf of all police forces. PCCs and their mayor equivalents should direct their response to the APCC which should provide a collective response on their behalf.

Our action

Actions will be progressed and updates will be collated in due course.

By 22 November 2024 (56 days from publication), publish on their force website an action plan which explains what their force will do in response to each of the recommendations made to them and send the NPCC a link to where this action plan can be found.

By 27 March 2025 (six months from publication) provide an update to the NPCC, describing the progress they have made against their action plans.

Our action

• This action plan was published on 19 November 2024
• We will provide an update on our progress no later than 27 March.