National Stalking Awareness Week 2011
What is National Stalking Awareness Week?
The first annual National Stalking Awareness Week (NSAW) ran from the 11th – 15th April 2011. The aim of the week was to raise the public’s understanding of stalking through the campaign Name it. Report it. Stop it.
Working with MPs
In the run up to National Stalking Awareness week 2011 the Helpline and its three parent charities, Network for Surviving Stalking, Protection Against Stalking and Suzy Lamplugh Trust worked hard to gain support for an Early Day Motion (EDM) supporting a call for the review of the Protection Against Harassment Act 1997. 82 MPs signed the EDM which states;
That this House endorses the provisions of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997; believes that a thorough review of the Act is needed; further believes that harassment and stalking are serious offences; and supports the National Stalking Awareness Week to be launced on 11 April 2011.Programme
Each day focused on a different area of stalking and the week culminated by celebrating the first year anniversary the National Stalking Helpline.
Day 1 April 11th – The National Stalking Awareness Week launch event ‘Out of the Shadows’
Victims came ‘Out of the Shadows’ to tell their stories and speak out about stalking – they highlighted and identified the stalkers behaviour and gave their account as to what happened and how theCJS let them down. The victims and professionals who work with stalking charities also highlighted what needs to change.
Day 2 April 12th – Victims
The theme for this day was to convey the campaign message to victims and others – ‘Name it. Report it. Stop it’.
Stalking is a crime. It should be taken seriously. Victims can complete the 11 questions if they believe they are being stalked. You can download the stalking questions by clicking on the following link Stallking victims questionnaire
Equally we want to urge victims to complete the cyberstalking survey: www.nssadvice.org/survey
Day 3 April 13th– Criminal Justice Agencies , ACPO and CPS
‘Out of the Shadows’ Conference Manchester event. Speakers included ACC Garry Shewan, Greater Manchester Police and ACPO lead for Stalking and CPS Director Nazir Afzal.
A stalking advice leaflet for police services was launched alongside Greater Manchester Police’s own stalking policy.
Day 4 April 14th – Perpetrators
It is important to highlight there are no programmes for perpetrators in the UK, which is detrimental, costly and dangerous to those that they stalk, as well as too themselves. This is why there tend to be multiple victims and the offending is of a serial nature.
Day 5 April 15th – First Anniversary of the National Stalking Helpline
This marked the one year birthday of the Helpline with the release of statistics from the Helpline’s first year.
