We need a register of stalkers now to stop attacks like the one on my daughter happening again
MIRROR EXCLUSIVE: Former stalking victims say a public register would help reduce serious harm from serial stalkers. Last year, police recorded over 135,000 stalking offences in England and Wales
Stalkers should be placed on a national public register to protect future generations of women and girls, say campaigners.
It would mean anyone starting a relationship could check if a potential new partner has any convictions or patterns of offending.
Victims say the register would help reduce serious harm from serial stalkers. Last year, police recorded more than 135,000 stalking offences in England and Wales. That represented a rise from just under 3,000 a decade ago, according to analysis by the Lib Dems.
Long-time campaigner Laura Richards, founder of Paladin, the National Stalking Advocacy Service, stressed that any new register must be enshrined in law.
She believes that police forces must be compelled to reveal any history of stalking or domestic abuse.
She is calling for unconvicted serial stalkers and domestic abusers to be included on the Violent and Sexual Offenders Register.And she wants a national database shared by all 43 police forces in England and Wales, and managed via the Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements. The proposal has the backing of a Change.org petition signed by MORE THAN 300,000 people.
“We want convicted stalkers and domestic abusers on a public-facing register like those in Ireland, and the US states of Tennessee and Florida.
“Courts in the UK now flag domestic abuse cases, and a system is in place, which is really good news so they can create a public record. But they are not doing this for stalkers.
“We want that, plus pro-active tracking of abusers and stalkers on one national network. Offenders will not want to be on the database because of the shame involved. That will be a big part of the deterrent... they are often serial offenders.”
One of the worst cases highlighted by campaigners is the murder of stalking victim Gracie Spinks in June, 2021.
An inquest jury concluded she was unlawfully killed by a former work colleague who became "obsessed" with her. Michael Sellers murdered the 23-year-old in Duckmanton, Derbyshire. Sellers then killed himself. Gracie's family said the police displayed "total incompetence".
Several months before her death, Miss Spinks reported Sellers to the police for waiting for her near to the same field where she died Two dog walkers found a bag of Sellers' weapons, including three knives, a hammer and an axe with a handwritten note that read: "Don't Lie".
Derbyshire Police apologised for their failures. Gracie's father Richard Spinks said after the inquest: "Derbyshire Police let Gracie down, let us down and we hope that they do not let anyone else down. They need to change how they operate from the top to the bottom.
"They just seemed to want to get the job done, deal with the bag or the complaint, and then shelve it and forget about it. There was no investigation. It's just total incompetence."
Sellers had a history of targeting female colleagues.
The inquest heard Miss Spinks met Sellers when she started working at Xbite, an e-commerce firm based in Chesterfield, while furloughed from her job as a swimming instructor in April 2020. Sellers had been working there since 2015 and had previously given unwanted attention to seven other female colleagues, but Miss Spinks was not aware of this. Anna White reported the bag of weapons to police, saying she was particularly concerned about the note inside.
On Jan 4, 2021, Sellers parked in a layby near to where she kept her horse Paddy, which had "distressed and upset" her, according to the jury. She told Xbite, which suspended Sellers and conducted a formal investigation, which resulted in him being dismissed.
Miss Spinks then reported Sellers to police. Her report was initially "marked as a real and immediate risk", and police undertook an investigation.
"The warning signs were all there but the police did not investigate him - a familiar pattern. They did not interview Sellers nor did they request the disciplinary file from his workplace, Xbite. Instead, they gave him 'words of advice' about his behaviour.
"How many more women and girls must die before the Government takes action to ensure these serial perpetrators are proactively identified, assessed and managed just like sex offenders whether they have been convicted or not?"
'Clare's Law' was created in 2014
Laura said a register will deter stalkers because of the shame of being named publically. She added: "That will be a big part of the deterrent."
"Their attachment style means they are often serial offenders."
'Clare's Law', officially called the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (DVDS), means people, regardless of gender or sexual orientation, can ask the police about a current or ex-partner's history of violence or abuse.
It also allows police to proactively disclose information if they believe someone is at risk - known as the "Right to Ask" and "Right to Know". However, police are not legally obliged to disclose this information, so it isn't always shared.
'Clare's Law', officially called the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (DVDS), means people, regardless of gender or sexual orientation, can ask the police about a current or ex-partner's history of violence or abuse.
It also allows police to proactively disclose information if they believe someone is at risk - known as the "Right to Ask" and "Right to Know". However, police are not legally obliged to disclose this information, so it isn't always shared.
WE WANT TO CHANGE THIS.
HELP US -
SIGN THE PETITION.
WRITE TO:
Alex Davies Jones Minister for VAWG: alexdaviesjones.mp@parliament.uk
Alex Norris MP, Justice Secretary: alex.norris.mp@parliament.uk
READ article: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/stalkers-public-register-campaign-uk-37846552