Women’s Aid respond to the stalking protections announced by Home Office
Isabelle Younane, Head of External Affairs at Women’s Aid, said:
“Stalking is a prevalent issue for survivors of domestic abuse, especially in the post-separation period – as we know perpetrators weaponise this behaviour in an attempt to regain the control they have lost. Women’s Aid welcomes the announcement to strengthen protection for those who have experienced stalking and are especially pleased that new ‘Right to Know’ statutory guidance will be issued.
In our statement last week, responding to the piloting of Domestic Abuse Protection Orders (DAPOs), we shared our concerns around protective orders. While, in theory, orders serve to safeguard and protect survivors, inconsistencies to awareness, monitoring, and responding to breaches, means that they can be ineffective. Changes to the Stalking Protection Orders will only result in positive change if these underlying issues are addressed, and police forces and other agencies consistently understand and implement these orders, including meaningful consequences for those who breach them.
It is important to recognise that many of those who experience stalking will not report to the police or seek a criminal response. This may be because they do not feel comfortable doing so, due to fear, or lack of trust that they won’t be victim-blamed or re-traumatised. To ensure that those who do not report are given the support they need to heal from this violating experience, it is essential that specialist services are put on a secure financial footing in the upcoming multi-year spending review.
The nature of domestic abuse means that it does not just end when the relationship does. Instead, post-separation abuse means that survivors continue to face a significant risk of harm for a long time after. A comprehensive approach to dealing with and responding to post-separation abuse as a whole is urgently needed for survivors to be safeguarded. While stalking is a prevalent form of post-separation abuse, there are many more which need to be adequately addressed so that survivors can feel empowered to rebuild their lives away from abuse.”
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