Illustration: Ella Byworth
Julie Roberts (right) and Dr Liz Stephens run menopause support sessions for NHS staff.
WHAT MAKES A
by Jackie Rankin
STALKER? More than 80,000 cases of stalking were reported to police last year*. Some areas saw cases soar as lockdowns made it easier to target victims in their homes. Campaigners for Gracie’s Law, named after 23 year old Gracie Spinks, murdered by a stalker she’d reported to police, are calling for advocates within every police force to support victims.
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n Cheshire, the focus is also on working with perpetrators. The guiding principle is that, if they can be helped to change their behaviour, the public will be better protected.
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Daniel Price-Jones (pictured top right page 13), is a forensic psychologist, working as part of Cheshire Constabulary’s Harm
It’s only by changing behaviour that we can reduce the risk. Reduction Unit, a unique partnership of police, probation, and health and victim advocacy services. They select candidates from emergency calls and the criminal justice service. The person is then offered intensive support from the health team - Dan, an occupational therapist and a mental health nurse. He couldn’t be clearer. This is not treatment or rehabilitation. It is about protecting the public. “It’s only by changing behaviour that we can reduce the risk. They may still go to prison or into mental health care, but that’s not always the answer.”
The team is trained in stalking risk profiling, the gold standard assessment tool. They only work with people they feel are ready to change. They have to get it right. Research by former police officer Dr Jane Monkton Smith looked at 350 murders of women by men. 94 per cent had stalking behaviours. Most cases won’t get to that point, says Dan. But half will end up in physical violence. And stalking always causes psychological harm to the victim, which can result in trauma, self harm or suicide.
In 350 murders of women by men 94 per cent had stalking behaviours.
