Statement on the Inadequate Management of Stalking Complaints by Devon and Cornwall Police

We are deeply concerned by the continued failures of Devon and Cornwall Police to effectively manage stalking complaints, particularly those raised by women reporting escalating threats to their safety. Despite national attention on the dangers of stalking — and clear frameworks like the Victims' Code (formerly the Victim’s Charter) outlining victims’ rights to be heard, protected, and supported — many women in Devon and Cornwall are still being let down at critical moments when intervention could save lives.

Tragically, these systemic failures have already had fatal consequences. In 2020, Gracie Spinks, although from Derbyshire, became a national symbol of what happens when stalking warnings are disregarded; her death mirrors similar failures across police forces, including Devon and Cornwall. Closer to home, Katie Wilding, from Devon, was murdered in 2016 by a former partner after her repeated reports of stalking and harassment were not taken seriously by authorities. An Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigation found significant failings in how her complaints were handled — lessons that sadly have still not been fully learned.

The Victims' Code sets out clear standards: victims of stalking must be believed, risks must be assessed promptly, and individuals must be updated regularly and offered specialist support. Yet too often, women report being treated dismissively, with complaints minimised as 'domestic issues' rather than recognised as criminal offences with high risks of escalation. Victims are frequently left without updates, their concerns trivialised, and their protection undermined — in direct breach of their rights under the Code.

In Devon and Cornwall, we continue to see:

Stalking treated as low-priority despite multiple risk markers.
Inadequate use of Stalking Protection Orders.
Poor coordination with victim services and safeguarding teams.
A lack of specialist training among front-line officers.
This must change. We demand that Devon and Cornwall Police:

Implement mandatory specialist stalking training for all officers.
Review and revise how stalking complaints are risk-assessed and escalated.
Proactively issue Stalking Protection Orders where necessary.
Embed the Victims' Code at every stage of the complaint process, with external audits.
Publicly acknowledge past failings and set out a transparent plan for reform.
Stalking is not just "persistent behaviour" — it is a pattern of control, fear, and ultimately lethal violence. Women deserve to be heard, believed, and protected before it is too late.