A new map has revealed the stalking hotspots across England and Wales, with data showing that one in seven people aged 16 and over have experienced stalking at least once. According to the Crime Survey for England and Wales, an estimated one in five women and one in 11 men in this age group have been victims. Stalking is defined as two or more incidents causing distress, fear, or alarm, and can include obscene messages, being followed, or loitering near a victim's home or workplace.
Bradford tops the list with nearly 12,000 offences recorded in the year to September 2024, equivalent to 22 per 1,000 residents. Kingston-upon-Hull and North East Lincolnshire follow with 21 per 1,000. Other hotspots include Blaenau Gwent, Blackpool, Calderdale, and Wakefield. With the exception of Blaenau Gwent, all ten worst-affected areas are in the north, highlighting a stark north-south divide.
Younger women and girls are particularly vulnerable, with one in ten girls aged 16 to 19 targeted in the past year. However, the true scale may be worse, as many victims do not report. Police recorded over 600,000 stalking and harassment offences in the year to September 2024, but campaigners warn that many cases go unreported.
Research from the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, released during National Stalking Awareness Week, reveals that 95% of victims suffer psychological or mental health effects, and 78% report symptoms linked to PTSD. Yet only 24% were ever assessed for the condition. FOI requests found that none of England's 41 responding NHS Integrated Care Boards offered specific services for stalking victims, and only 7% of healthcare professionals felt confident identifying a victim.
The Suzy Lamplugh Trust has launched a campaign called “Health Response: Spotting Stalking” to train healthcare professionals. The National Stalking Consortium is also calling on the government to provide extra funding and a coordinated “whole health” response. Suky Bhaker, CEO of the Trust, said: “Stalking has far-reaching effects on victims’ health, but healthcare professionals lack the training and resources to identify it.”
