It is universally accepted that stalking is a high-risk precursor to domestic-related homicide.
Being present in 94% cases: Stalking features in multiple stages of the DA homicide timeline, as part of control, surveillance, escalation, intimidation, and planning for the final act. And yet stalking is a widely misunderstood and underestimated crime, wrongly perceived as ‘romantic’’.
Professionals, particularly law enforcement, often fail to recognise stalking and the connection to homicide due to lack of knowledge and understanding of the true nature of stalking, described by many as ‘murder in slow motion’. Professionals often focus on individual incidents rather than acknowledging the persistent and cumulative, damaging impact of the behaviours. They are not seeing the bigger picture, instead dealing with conduct as isolated incidents of malicious communication, criminal damage, or harassment. The context and motivation of fixation and obsession is being missed. Frequently the fact that violence has not been used or threatened leads some to view the incidents as ‘low level’ or ‘minor’ which could not be further from the truth. The onus is put on victims to manage their risk by changing their own behaviours and routines, rather than putting that expectation firmly with the perpetrator where it belongs.
The fact there is no national approach to stalking means that every police force does it differently and few are using domestic abuse and stalking screening tools properly to identify the high-risk markers. This could not be more apparent than in the case of twenty-year-old Hollie Gazzard who was brutally murdered by her ex-partner, Asher Maslin, in 2014. Maslin had a significant history of violence towards multiple partners before Hollie, and when she ended their intense relationship, he began to stalk her. She reported his behaviour to police three times before he stabbed her multiple times in the salon where she worked. On the first occasion Maslin was captured on cctv grabbing Hollie around the neck. No action was taken when she did not press charges, and the officers completed their risk assessment once back at the station, missing vital information which would have identified the risk he posed to her. As Hollie made further reports to Police, they did not identify the emerging course of conduct and instead homed in on the allegation that he had taken her bank card and stolen money from her account. This ultimately contributed to her death and Gloucestershire police were criticised by the Police watchdog for their handling of the case.
It is essential that professionals understand the gravity of stalking – because by correctly recognising the conduct as stalking and identifying the high-risk factors, they can create an opportunity to intervene early and safeguard victims like Hollie.
