34 arrested for stalking

34 arrested for stalking

24 April 2024

NEW figures have revealed that 34 people in the Newry, Mourne and Down area have been arrested for stalking over the past two years.

And police are encouraging people across the district not to ignore red flags – which may include someone following them or tracking their movements – and to contact them immediately if they have any concern.

Province-wide, 312 people have been arrested since April 2022, with the number of stalkers 

cautioned locally by police the third highest across Northern Ireland’s 11 councils, behind Belfast (69) and Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon (38).

The figures were released on Monday which marked the start of National Stalking Awareness Week, with the PSNI publishing updated arrest and Stalking Protection Order figures to showcase the successes over the past two years and encouraging more victims to come forward. 

New legislation was introduced to Northern Ireland in April 2022 which criminalised stalking for the first time. 

Stalking Protection Orders allow police to take swift and decisive action, putting restrictions in place and enforcing breaches, treating them as criminal offences

Up until the end of last month, police arrested 312 alleged stalkers and charged 150 of them.

And since October last year, officers have also made the first successful application for a Stalking Protection Order to safeguard victims and put prohibitions on alleged perpetrator’s behaviours.  

Detective Superintendent Lindsay Fisher, from the PSNI’s Public Protection Branch, said police  are asking the public to not ignore the red flags. 

“If someone’s behaviour towards you is fixated, obsessive, unwanted and repeated, this is stalking,” she said.

“I think many people when they hear the word ‘stalking’ will think of someone lurking in the shadows. Stalking can actually take many forms and can be online as well as in person and could be someone known to you or a complete stranger.”

Describing stalking as an “insidious crime,” the police chief said it takes over and destroys lives. “Statistics show that people will suffer up to 100 incidents before reporting to police,” she continued.

“It often results in fear, trauma and a reduction in the victim’s quality of life. In some tragic cases it has resulted in murder. 

“Stalking is a crime, which will not be tolerated or accepted within our communities. Thousands of our officers and staff have now been trained to recognise and respond to these crimes and we will continue to use every tool at our disposal to bring offenders to justice.”

She added that the PSNI was making weekly arrests, with Stalking Protection Orders allowing officers to take swift and decisive action, putting restrictions in place and enforcing breaches, treating them as criminal offences.

Police say stalking and harassment behaviours to look out for include regularly following someone and tracking their movements, repeatedly going uninvited to their home or workplace, checking someone’s internet use, email or other communications.

Other red flags include hanging around somewhere they know the person often visits, in interfering with their property, watching or spying on someone and identity theft which involves buying things in someone’s name.

Police are advising anyone experiencing such behaviour or are worried about a loved one who may be being stalking to contact them on the 101 number or call 999 in an emergency. 

Help is also available via the National Stalking Helpline where practical advice and information is available to anyone who is currently or previously has been affected by harassment or stalking. The number is 0808 8020300.