Merseyside Launches New Support System for Victims of Stalking and Harassment

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A pioneering new pilot project aimed at improving support for victims of stalking and harassment has launched in Merseyside.

The initiative has been funded by Merseyside’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Emily Spurrell, and will be delivered byMDVS (the Merseyside Domestic Violence and Stalking service)a leading organisation in the field of stalking advocacy and support.

Stalking and harassment occurs when someone repeatedly behaves in a way that makes a person feel scared, distressed, or threatened, and can be perpetrated by men or women. A stalker is a person who persistently engages in behaviours intended to maintain contact with or exercise power and control over another person. This can involve fixated, obsessive, unwanted and repeated behaviour which causes distress, fear, and harassment to the victim.

Formally known as Chrysalis, MDVS has been established since 2003 and has provided trauma-informed support for victims and survivors of domestic abuse for more than 20 years, including working with the PCC on a previous project to challenge the behaviour of men identified as potential perpetrators of domestic abuse. Since 2019, the organisation has supported a growing number of stalking and harassment victims.

Evidence from the Police and Crime Commissioner’s survey of victims also highlighted stalking and harassment as an increasing area of concern, requiring more support to be put in place.

By launching this new service, the Police and Crime Commissioner aims to ensure there is specialist support service for all victims of stalking and harassment.

As part of the new service, there will be a dedicated Independent Stalking Advocacy Caseworker (ISAC) who will risk assess cases and provide quality support for victims.

The launch of this service supports the Police and Crime Commissioner and Merseyside Police’s Taking Action campaign which sets out their commitment to tackling Violence against Women and Girls, bringing offenders to justice and supporting anyone impacted.

This campaign, which first launched in September 2024, highlighted that 60% of women in Merseyside lived in fear of being stalked, following a survey of more than 4,000 women and girls.

To mark the launch of the new support service, a range of marketing materials have been produced which highlight the ‘red flags’ of stalking and harassment, encouraging victims and their friends and family to report it and seek help.

It is also another step forward in the PCC’s region-wide plan for tackling Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) which sets out a series of straight-forward and achievable actions for agencies across Merseyside to deliver to help eradicate VAWG.

Merseyside’s Police Commissioner Emily Spurrellsaid: “Stalking and harassment can have a devastating and profound impact on victims. Our research shows that incidents are on the increase, yet there is a gap in support for those affected.

“By launching this important new pilot, we’re focused on addressing that – providing specialist, tailored support to help protect victims and ensure they can live safely and without fear.

“I’m pleased to be working with MDVS to launch this service. With their experience, we can make a real difference in the lives of those affected by stalking and harassment.

“Supporting victims is a key commitment I’ve made through our Taking Action campaign and as part of my region-wide plan for tackling Violence against Women and Girls, so I am pleased to be delivering enhanced and expanded help and care for those who need it most.”

CEO of MDVS, Ayla Nasuh,said: “We are proud to lead this important pilot, which marks a major step forward in how stalking is recognised and responded to across Merseyside. Stalking is a serious and often misunderstood crime that can affect anyone, regardless of gender or relationship to the perpetrator, and the harm it causes is often devastating and long-lasting.

“At MDVS, we’ve spent many years developing a stalking-specific response that’s grounded in survivor voice, risk expertise, and multi-agency partnerships. This pilot enables us to build on that foundation, delivering specialist, trauma-informed support for victims-survivors of all stalking typologies, and strengthening the systems around them so they’re not left navigating it alone.

“We’re grateful to the PCC for recognising the urgent need for this work and for investing in a model that centres safety, choice, and meaningful change.”

Detective Chief Inspector Sue Hinds, Merseyside Police’s stalking leadsaid: “Stalking is a serious, distressing crime which can have a devastating impact on the lives of victims, their friends and family.

“Victims of stalking offences can quite rightly feel unsettled, distressed and isolated, which is why this pilot is so important to get the message out there that help, and support is always available.

“I would encourage anyone who believes they may be a victim of stalking to report the offences to the police. I want to assure those who do come forward that we will investigate reports thoroughly and with discretion and our officers will be on hand to provide safeguarding, support and reassurance.”

MDVS can be reached directly by calling 07802 722703 or by emailing info@mdvs.org

If you have been affected by crime, you can also get support by calling the Victim Care Merseyside service Freephone on 0808 175 3080 or visithttps://victimcaremerseyside.org any time, whether you have reported an incident to the police or not.

What is stalking and harassment?

Stalking and harassment is when someone repeatedly behaves in a way that makes you feel scared, distressed or threatened. If this unwanted behaviour happens two times or more, it may be a crime, and you can report it to the police.

Both stalking and harassment are offences under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997. They're crimes the police take very seriously. They here for you if this is something you're experiencing.

Stalking and harassment are very similar offences. Don't worry if you're not sure whether you're being stalked or harassed. If you report it, the police will be able to explain if an offence has been committed and what that offence is.

Harassment

Harassment may include:

  • sending abusive text messages or images

  • posting abusive messages on social media

  • neighbour disputes that involve abusive behaviour or damage to property

  • repeated antisocial behaviour

  • making unwanted or offensive phone calls

It's harassment if the unwanted behaviour has happened two times or more and made you feel distressed or threatened.

Stalking

Stalking is a form of harassment, but the stalker will have an obsession with the person they're targeting, and their repeated, unwanted behaviour can make the victim feel distressed or scared.  

Stalking may include:

  • following someone

  • going uninvited to their home

  • hanging around somewhere they know the person often visits

  • watching or spying on someone

  • identity theft (signing-up to services, buying things in someone's name)

  • writing or posting online about someone if it's unwanted or the person doesn't know

It's stalking if the unwanted behaviour has happened two times or more and made you feel scared, distressed or threatened.

Online stalking or harassment

Online stalking or harassment is when someone monitors, stalks, harasses, threatens, controls or impersonates another person using the internet or other technology.

Online stalking or harassment may include:

  • monitoring someone’s internet use, email or other electronic communication

  • someone sending you photos of genitals without your permission

  • getting access to someone's email and social media accounts

  • spamming and sending viruses

  • stealing someone's identity

  • threatening to share private information, photographs, copies of messages

  • adding tracking software to someone's devices

It's online stalking or harassment if the unwanted behaviour has happened two times or more and made you feel scared, distressed or threatened.

Report stalking or harassment

If you, or someone you know, has been a victim of stalking or harassment, trust your instincts and tell someone, that could be a friend, family member, colleague or GP.

Save all evidence, such as emails, texts and photographs. Do not respond or engage with the person responsible.

Report it to the police or to a support service.

For the police

  • Report online by using Merseyside Police’s online crime reporting service which is secure and confidential. All reports made using this service are reviewed by our 24/7 contact centre within a few hours and an officer will get back to you in a maximum of two days (although usually quicker).

  • Call the police’s non-emergency number 101 and report what happened or just get some advice. This number is staffed 24/7.

  • If it’s an emergency, always call 999 and ask for the police.

Stalking protection order

A stalking protection order can be used to protect anyone who's been a victim of stalking.

The order can prohibit the stalker from doing certain things, including:

  • going to locations where you live or visit often

  • contacting you in any way, including by phone, post, email, text message or social media

  • recording images of you

  • referring to you on social media either directly or indirectly

The order lasts for a minimum of two years. Breaching (or breaking) a protection order, without a good reason, is a criminal offence.