In a significant step forward for the rights and safety of stalking victims, the UK government has unveiled a comprehensive package of measures aimed at providing better protection and support. The announcement, made by Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls Jess Phillips, includes groundbreaking “right to know” guidance that will ensure victims are informed of their online stalkers’ identities at the earliest possible stage.
Empowering Victims, Holding Perpetrators Accountable
The new measures, which come as part of the government’s broader strategy to tackle violence against women and girls, are designed to empower victims and hold perpetrators to account. Central to this is the “right to know” guidance, which will compel police to disclose the identity of online stalkers to their victims as soon as they have been identified.
Speaking about the importance of this change, Phillips, who has herself been a victim of stalking, emphasized the psychological toll that not knowing the identity of one’s stalker can take:
I have been a victim of stalking, and I wasn’t told [the identity of the stalker]. I didn’t have the right to know. And in most of the cases of my stalkers, they made it clear who they were as part of their desire to control and frighten me. I’m afraid to say that I’ve had more than one in my life.
The Nicola Thorp Case
Phillips also cited the high-profile case of activist and former Coronation Street actor Nicola Thorp, who was stalked online by an individual who created nearly 30 social media accounts to send her violent and threatening messages. Despite police identifying the perpetrator, they initially refused to share this information with Thorp, leaving her in a state of constant fear and suspicion.
This was a case raised by Nicola Thorp, where somebody had been stalking her over multiple identities online, and when they said the police told her that they’d found out who it was, they then told her that they couldn’t tell her who it was.
And so everybody became her stalker – the person she was sat next to on the street – and already, when you’re living through something as harrowing as somebody stalking you and making you feel frightened and anxious, the idea that then you have to distrust all of the people around you as well just seems like a terrible added burden … and so that is what we’re going to eliminate.
– Jess Phillips
A Comprehensive Package of Protections
In addition to the “right to know” guidance, the government’s package includes five other key measures aimed at protecting stalking victims:
- Strengthening of stalking protection orders to better safeguard victims
- Improved training for police and prosecutors to ensure stalking cases are properly investigated and perpetrators brought to justice
- A new national stalking database to help police identify and monitor repeat offenders
- Increased funding for support services for stalking victims
- A national awareness campaign to challenge attitudes and behaviors that can lead to stalking
These measures have been widely welcomed by stalking charities and victims’ groups, who have long campaigned for better protections and support. The Suzy Lamplugh Trust, a leading stalking charity, praised the government’s commitment to tackling the issue, calling it a “landmark moment” for victims.
A Turning Point in the Fight Against Stalking?
While the new measures have been broadly welcomed, some have questioned whether they go far enough. Critics point out that stalking remains a vastly under-reported crime, with many victims still reluctant to come forward due to fear, shame, or a lack of faith in the criminal justice system.
There are also concerns about the capacity of police and support services to cope with the anticipated increase in demand that the new measures may bring. With stalking cases already on the rise – up 33% in England and Wales in the year ending March 2022 compared to the previous year – some fear that without significant additional resources, the system could quickly become overwhelmed.
Despite these challenges, however, there is no doubt that the government’s announcement represents a significant step forward in the fight against stalking. By empowering victims, holding perpetrators accountable, and challenging the attitudes and behaviors that can lead to stalking, these measures have the potential to make a real difference to the lives of thousands of people across the UK.
As Phillips herself put it, speaking after the announcement:
Stalking is a crime that can have a devastating impact on victims’ lives, leaving them feeling constantly afraid and vulnerable. These new measures send a clear message that we will not tolerate this insidious form of abuse, and that we are committed to doing everything we can to protect victims and bring perpetrators to justice.
– Jess Phillips
Only time will tell whether these measures will deliver the real, lasting change that stalking victims so desperately need. But one thing is certain: in a world where technology has made it easier than ever for stalkers to target and terrorize their victims, the fight against this cruel and cowardly crime has never been more urgent or important.
