A dedication to protecting victims of stalking from further harm has led to Kent Police passing a landmark milestone in the use of preventative orders.
Stalking Protection Orders (SPOs) were introduced in 2020 to restrict the activities of suspected offenders without the need for them to be convicted first, with over 250 now secured in Kent.
Breaching an SPO is a criminal offence in itself and can result in up to five years’ imprisonment, an unlimited fine or both.
Detective Chief Inspector Mandy Poulter said: “Kent Police has long championed the use of Stalking Protection Orders as another effective power to keep victims safe, and we are proud to have secured over 250 to date.
“Every SPO requires thorough investigation, risk assessment and approval from the courts, and is a process that runs alongside ongoing criminal investigations into the actions of suspected stalkers.
“This adds another layer of protection for victims as the people believed to be causing them fear are left in no doubt that they will be arrested and potentially sent to prison if they breach the terms of their SPO.”
National Stalking Awareness Week ran from April 20 until today (April 24) and one of its aims is to make victims aware of the various forms of support available to them.
Already this year Kent Police officers have made over 450 arrests on suspicion of stalking, which is defined as a pattern of fixated and obsessive behaviour that is repeated, persistent, intrusive and causes distress or fear of violence.
SPOs can prohibit stalkers from doing certain things such as going to specific locations, contacting victims or referring to them on social media. They can also require the stalker to perform certain tasks such as handing over their devices to the police, signing on at a police station or attending a drugs and alcohol programme.
DCI Poulter said: “The majority of stalking offences are committed by offenders who are known to their victims, such as former partners who refuse to accept the relationship is over. We also know that women and girls are disproportionately affected.
“Regardless of who is involved, stalking is a terrifying crime that can make victims fear for their lives and we remain committed to providing them with the safeguarding and support that is specific to their individual needs.
“Stalking Protection Orders are a fantastic way of helping us to achieve that and we will continue to use them alongside other more traditional methods such as bail conditions and non-molestation orders to ensure suspected offenders keep well away from their victims.”
For more information about stalking and SPOs visit the advice pages on the Kent Police website.
If you are a victim of stalking then you can report it online at www.kent.police.uk/report. Always call 999 in an emergency.
