{"id":59556,"date":"2024-04-26T11:34:28","date_gmt":"2024-04-26T11:34:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shefnews.co.uk\/?p=59556"},"modified":"2024-04-29T10:44:43","modified_gmt":"2024-04-29T10:44:43","slug":"south-yorkshire-police-support-national-stalking-awareness-week-to-help-victims-living-in-fear","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shefnews.co.uk\/index.php\/2024\/04\/26\/south-yorkshire-police-support-national-stalking-awareness-week-to-help-victims-living-in-fear\/","title":{"rendered":"South Yorkshire Police support National Stalking Awareness Week to help victims \u2018living in fear\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

South Yorkshire police is one of just seven police forces in the UK to have a dedicated stalking officer.<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stalking Awareness Week runs from 22 to 28 April, led by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year the trust is focusing on multi-agency working and is calling for all agencies in the criminal justice system to work together so \u2018victims are supported from the point of disclosure to beyond the conviction of the perpetrator\u2019. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To better understand the challenges faced when receiving a stalking conviction, the Suzy Lamplugh Trust sent FOI requests to all 43 police forces in the UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fflur Jones, Policy and Campaigns Officer for Suzy Lamplugh Trust, said: \u201cWe were shocked to find that despite the complexity of stalking as a crime. Police forces across the country really lack the in-house expertise to be dealing with these cases.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trust discovered that just seven police forces across the UK, including South Yorkshire Police, have dedicated stalking officers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chief Inspector Helen Lewis is the force lead for stalking over dedicated teams in each district of South Yorkshire. Her role is to ensure \u2018victims of stalking are safeguarded and perpetrators are brought to justice\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chief Insp Lewis said: \u201cStalking is a serious crime and is not something anyone should have to live with. It has profound long-term harm on victims and in the most serious cases, it can tragically end in the death of victims.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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As a victim of stalking myself I am pleased that @syptweet<\/a> are taking this matter so seriously. Whatever I can do as Lord Mayor to raise awareness around this issue I will be more than happy to do . #sheffield<\/a> #nationalstalkingawarenessweek<\/a> #suzylamplughtrust<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/pnkFx4gp0I<\/a><\/p>— Jayne Dunn (@JaynePDunn) April 26, 2024<\/a><\/blockquote>