At Aurora New Dawn, we understand how frightening stalking can be. It can affect every area of your life and leave you feeling unsafe and isolated. 

Across Thames Valley, we provide a specialist stalking service, offering tailored support to help you stay safe and take back control. Whether you are looking for emotional support, practical support or safety planning, our independent stalking advocacy caseworkers (ISAC) are able to help so you don’t have to face it alone.

What Is Stalking?

Definition 

Defined by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust as “a pattern of fixated and obsessive behaviour which is repeated, persistent, intrusive and causes fear of violence or engenders alarm or distress in the victim.”

The College of Policing uses the acronym FOUR.

Fixated 

Obsessed 

Unwanted 

Repeated

Some Examples of Stalking Behaviours 

  • Following a person
  • Contacting or attempting to contact a person by any means
  • Publishing any statement or other material or purporting to relate to a person or purporting to originate from a person
  • Monitoring the use by a person of the internet, email or any other form of electronic communication
  • Digital abuse – making persistent contact through email, social media accounts
  • Loitering in any place (whether public or private)
  • Interfering with any property in possession of a person
  • Watching or spying on a person in person or online

Prevalence

  • Around 1.5 million victims of stalking in the year ending March 2020 (CSEW)
  • 1 in 5 women and 1 in 10 men in the UK will experience stalking at some point in their lifetime
  • 84% of stalking cases sampled 2019-2020 involved ex partners and three quarters reported prior domestic abuse (CPS)
  • Victims do not tend to report to the police until 100th incident (Sheridan, 2002)

What To Expect

Referrals 

We can accept both agency and self referrals. This can be made via email stalking.thamesvalley@aurorand.org.uk or 02392 479254. 

Initial Contact

Once our team has confirmed we can accept the referral, we will aim to make contact via text or call within 2 working days to confirm this with you. Our advocates will attempt to call you 4-6 times, if we don’t hear from you, your case will be temporarily closed with us. This can be reopened if you wish.

First conversation

During the first conversation between the survivor and our team, which we sometimes call the intake call, the advocate will explain our service. If you would like to proceed, the following intake process will need to be completed.

  • Privacy notice 
  • Intake form 
  • SASH (Screening Assessment for Stalking and Harassment)
  • DASH (Screening Assessment for Domestic Abuse) (if applicable) 
  • Safety and Support Plan

Support

Our ISAC’s will aim to call you every 2-3 weeks to check in. These calls are to check in with you and establish if there’s any support we can offer. 

If you need support between calls, you can reach out to your advocate who will get back to you ASAP.

How We Can Help

Emotional Support

At Aurora, we understand the emotional effect stalking can have on victims. Our advocates offer a safe and confidential space for you to talk about what’s happening and how it’s affecting you. 

Practical Support

Stalking can have an impact in all areas of your life such as housing, finances and safety to name a few. Our advocates can explore these with you by signposting you to other organisations or liaising with professionals to ensure you are being fully supported.

Additionally, we can support you through every stage of the justice process. From the very beginning, we can liaise with Thames Valley Police regarding your case, guide you through court proceedings, attend court alongside you, and answer any questions you may have about the justice system.

Safety planning

During the course of providing support to you, our advocates will work alongside you to identify areas that you can improve your safety. Together, you will create a safety plan that’s regularly reviewed to help keep you as safe as possible as your circumstances evolve.

You Are Not Alone

If you think you’re being stalked, or are unsure and you are in the Thames Valley, or are in or have a link to the Armed Forces we can help. 

Thames Valley

Armed Forces Helpline: 

  • Helpline & WhatsApp: +44 (0)333 0912 527
  • Helpline hours (GMT): 0900-1500 Monday to Friday
  • WhatsApp chat (GMT): Tuesday 0900-1500 / Wednesday & Thursday 1700-2000 / Sunday 1000-1400

Elsewhere in the UK, you can contact the National Stalking Helpline

Stalking is never the fault of the person being stalked. You didn’t ask for it and you don’t deserve it.

You do deserve to feel safe, believed, and supported.

#16days #NoExcuse and #ACTtoEndViolence