Bullying has received renewed attention since the recent Netflix drama series Baby Reindeer, and a new review has laid bare the extent of the problem.
Monday 22 July 2024 23:22, United Kingdom
A man who was stalked for 27 years says police ‘mocked’ him when he first reported it – as a damning new report highlights the need for ‘urgent action’ to tackle the crime.
Nearly two-thirds of stalking suspects in London have previously committed crimes, according to research published by the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC).
The report also found that more than 80% of reports made by victims are not initially classified as tracking – and recorded as domestic violence or harassment.
Separate figures show that one in five women in the UK will experience harassment, while one in ten men will also experience it.
Among the men who were harassed was John, who wished to remain anonymous and withhold his real name after being a victim for 27 years.
He told Sky News that police “laughed” and “smiled” when he first reported the harassment, which he described as “constant”.
“I will never forget what they said to me when I walked in,” he said.
“I went and said to them, ‘I have a woman who is constantly hanging around my house… (sitting) in the pub, looking at me and wanting to get my attention, what should I do?’
“They laughed and smiled behind the screen and said, ‘Listen mate, all you have to do is tell the girl to leave.’ I said I did it.
“Then they said there was nothing we could do for you. And I looked at them and thought, ‘Wow! I was furious, so I left.’”
Bullying has received renewed attention since the recent Netflix drama Baby Reindeer, which John turned off after just a few minutes because it was too close to home.
Her stalker is awaiting trial in court and he hopes she will be sentenced to a long prison term.
“I don’t think it will stop until I move out of where I live,” he said.
“Once she’s sentenced – hopefully it’s a long sentence – I feel like I can really start to make changes.”
The MOPAC study found that nearly half of reports classified as harassment by police result in the victim withdrawing from the case, while 41% are dropped by police, often citing a lack of evidence.
Of the harassers prosecuted, three-quarters are accused of a less serious harassment offence, punishable by a minimum sentence of six months in prison.
“The system has become complicit”
“This does not protect all victims”
Claire Waxman, London’s victims’ commissioner, called for comprehensive reform of stalking laws, adding that research shows that “too many stalkers are escaping justice” and that young people “learn to cope with unwanted attention”.
“Victims of harassment have been failed for far too long by a criminal justice system that still struggles to identify and understand harassment,” she said.
“Unfortunately, the system has become complicit in the escalation of harassment cases.
“Confusing legislation hampers the ability of police to build strong cases, allowing stalkers to operate with impunity and leaving victims at risk.”
Emma Lingley-Clark, interim chief executive of anti-bullying charity the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, said the findings showed the need for “urgent action” from the new government and all agencies to “improve the response to victims of bullying”.
Learn more:
Psychologist recounts ‘terrifying’ bullying experience
Police get new guidelines to arrest stalkers
“Specialists could increase convictions for harassment”
Commander Kevin Southworth, head of public protection at London’s Metropolitan Police, said the force welcomes the victims’ commissioner’s recommendations.
“The Metropolitan Police is transforming the way we protect the public from harm, by better targeting predatory offenders and identifying stalkers early,” he said.
“We know we will be judged on our actions and we have already made progress – using technology and counter-terrorism techniques to investigate these crimes and increasing the number of harassment protection orders since 2022.”
