Stalking Protection Orders Breached 70 Times Since 2019, Sussex Police Chief Told

Wednesday, 22 June 2022 06:00

By Karen Dunn, Local Democracy Reporter

Stalking Protection Orders applied for by Sussex Police have been breached 70 times since being introduced in 2019 and perpetrators are not signing up for counselling sessions.

The figure was shared by Detective Chief Constable Julia Chapman during a meeting with Police & Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne on Friday (June 17).

Mrs Bourne said: “It shows you the fixated nature of the offending, it really does.”

The orders are applied for via magistrates’ court if a person’s actions have not reached the point where criminal proceedings can be started.

They form part of the force’s arsenal when it comes to tackling stalking and harassment.

In 2021/22, 40 orders were applied for and, as of this month, 42 people were either subject to interim or full orders with another 11 waiting on court hearings.

Ms Chapman said:

“We take stalking and harassment really seriously because we know the impact it has on victims – and the long-lasting impact as well.”

She added:

“We’re consistently looking for opportunities to use [the orders].

“The benefit of these orders is, whilst they can prohibit somebody from doing something, they can also be a positive – as in somebody has to undertake some treatment or counselling to deter further offences.”

That treatment includes a Stalking Perpetrator Programme, provided in partnership with Interventions Alliance.

The programme involves behavioural intervention therapy sessions which aim to to help perpetrators to acknowledge, accept and recognise the emotions and thoughts that trigger their harmful behaviour – in turn helping them manage those emotions and behaviour without causing harm to others.

So far, only eight people have agreed to take part.

When asked why, Ms Chapman said:

“One of the issues we have is that defence barristers will raise a concern that, if somebody is still under investigation and they haven’t been convicted of something, to require them to go into a perpetrator programme feels disproportionate because it implies that they are already a perpetrator.”