2026 National Stalking Awareness Week highlights affect of stalking and harassment in Walsall

The marketing campaign, which takes place between 20-24 April 2026, is led by the National Stalking Consortium, a community of 21 specialist organisations from throughout the UK. This yr’s marketing campaign focus of ‘Fatal Fixation’ houses in on the essential hyperlink between stalking and critical hurt, together with murder.

Stalking is outlined as a sample of fixated and obsessive behaviour that’s repeated, persistent, intrusive and causes concern of violence or engenders alarm and misery within the sufferer. It is a felony offence that may be dedicated by anybody, no matter gender, and might happen with or with out specific threats of violence. Persistent, undesirable contact that causes misery could represent stalking.

The affect of stalking might be important, with long-term results on a sufferer’s psychological and bodily well-being.

Data from the Safer Walsall Partnership (SWG), which incorporates Walsall Council and West Midlands Police, gives perception into native developments:

• Around 10 per cent of all stalking and harassment offences reported to West Midlands Police are recorded in Walsall.
• Overall recorded harassment offences throughout the West Midlands have decreased in comparison with final yr, with a bigger discount seen in Walsall.
• Recorded harassment offences in opposition to ladies are lowering at a higher charge, though reductions in Walsall are smaller than throughout the broader police drive space.
• Recorded stalking offences are lowering at a quicker charge than harassment total, although the discount in Walsall is decrease than throughout West Midlands.
• Stalking offences involving feminine victims are decreasing by a higher charge than harassment total.

Whilst these figures point out some reductions, stalking and harassment stay underreported, which means the true scale is probably going larger.

The information additionally reveals that girls are disproportionately affected. Around two-thirds of harassment victims are ladies, and roughly 75 per cent of stalking victims are feminine. This contrasts with total recorded crime developments, the place victims are extra evenly break up between women and men.

“ Stalking and harassment can have a profound and lasting affect on victims. The information reveals that girls are disproportionately affected domestically.

“Agencies throughout Walsall proceed to work collectively to determine dangers, assist victims and reply to those offences. Anyone experiencing persistent, undesirable behaviour is inspired to hunt assist, communicate up and report it. “

“ Harassment and stalking are felony offences, and there aren’t any circumstances the place this behaviour is suitable.

“Police use a spread of approaches to analyze and resolve stalking and harassment crimes together with out of court docket interventions, prosecutions, and court docket orders, similar to, home violence safety orders and harassment safety orders.

“Over the winter months, West Midlands Police elevated our patrols throughout the darker nights, concentrating on areas the place there was a heightened threat of offending or vulnerability. This yr, we stay dedicated to persevering with this important work. “