Suzy Lamplugh Trust Stalking Super-complaint: Our action plan
In November 2022, the Suzy Lamplugh Trust submitted a super-complaint on behalf of the National Stalking Consortium on the police response to stalking.
Following an investigation into this complaint by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Service (HMICFRS) and the College of Policing (CoP), a joint investigation report was published.
The investigation found that significant changes are needed to improve the police response to reports of stalking, these include:
- outlining steps Chief Constables should take now to improve the quality of stalking investigations
- changing the criminal law on stalking
- making stalking protection orders simpler and easier for the police to use
- ensuring police and support services work more closely together to improve the service provided to victims.
A total of 29 recommendations were made for agencies including the Home Office, Ministry of Justice, Police and Crime Commissioners, National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for Stalking and Harassment, Crown Prosecution Service, College of Policing, Independent Office for Police Conduct and Chief Constables. Some recommendations apply to more than one agency.
The plan below outlines the recommendations for Chief Constables and following an assessment against these recommendations, a number of actions have been identified by Essex Police. These actions are detailed alongside the recommendations below.
Recommendation 7
By 27 March 2025, where required, seek changes to their crime recording systems to enable staff and officers to document and search for crimes not recorded as the principal crime, as included classifications on crime records.
Processes should be put in place to make sure this system capability is effectively used by officers and staff. While any necessary system changes are pending, chief constables should put alternative measures in place to make sure stalking and related offences are fully searchable. This could, for example, be the submission of intelligence reports.
Evidence requirement
7.1 Processes should be put in place to make sure this system capability is effectively used by officers and staff.
7.2 While any necessary system changes are pending, chief constables should put alternative measures in place to make sure stalking and related offences are fully searchable. This could, for example, be the submission of intelligence reports.
Our actions
7.1 Essex Police has a search facility which allows classification/keyword searches by frontline officers and staff. Our Contact Management Command complete a 42 step quality assurance process which includes Stalking offences.
7.2 Not relevant to Essex.
Recommendation 10
By 27 March 2025, review and update their learning and training provision relating to stalking.
Chief constables should also make sure that their policies and practice are reviewed and updated in accordance with the findings in the super-complaint investigation report.
Evidence requirement
10.1 Meets the learning outcomes on stalking within the public protection national policing curriculum
10.2 Makes appropriate use of the stalking or harassment e-learning product developed by the College of Policing.
10.3 Uses the skills and knowledge of local victim advocates or others from outside policing with relevant expertise.
10.4 Includes information on relevant local policies and practice where necessary
10.5 Provide to the officers and staff who will most benefit from the learning.
Our actions
Essex Police has reviewed and updated its Stalking Procedure since the publication of the Super Complaint Investigation Report.
10.1 These learning outcomes are covered in our current stalking training.
10.2 Essex Police makes appropriate use of the College Learn Stalking e-learning product.
10.3, 10.4 and 10.5 Essex Police utilise the skills and knowledge of Independent Stalking Advocacy Caseworkers (ISAC) in our officer and staff continuous professional development. During the summer all of our emergency response teams were trained with training Quality Assured by ISAC. In the coming months we will be utilising ISACs to deliver training to our Domestic Abuse and Criminal Investigation Department officers. Our Contact Centre staff have also received training regards identification of Stalking within their key departments.
Recommendation 11
By 27 March 2025, make sure that appropriate mechanisms are in place to fully understand the scale and types of stalking behaviour within their force and the effectiveness of their response. This should align with the VAWG national delivery framework.
Evidence requirement
11.1 Problem profiles using police data and intelligence and other sources of information to ensure that the full extent of stalking is well understood. This could include information sharing with local victims’ services and other public services, and national and local statistics.
11.2 Regular assurance work such as audits to better understand the force response and make improvements where appropriate, including monitoring the use of SPOs, investigation outcomes and the quality of investigations.
11.3 Ways to regularly receive feedback from victims, such as victim surveys.
11.4 Force management statements which reflect current and future demand from stalking.
Our actions
11.1 Essex Police does have a Problem Profile for Stalking as part of a wider Violence against Women and Girls report produced in April 2024.
11.2 Essex Police internal Audit and Inspection team completed two audits specifically on Stalking last year. These examined our response to investigations, outcomes and quality. They didn’t examine the use of SPO’s. The Police Fire and Crime Commissioner has also scrutinised the force twice in the last 12 months through deepdives into Domestic Abuse and Vulnerability.
11.3 Essex Police hold a Victim Scrutiny Panel. We also have a dedicated Victim Services Manager. We also receive regular feedback from a 3rd sector provider, Independent Stalking Advocacy Caseworkers and Independent Domestic Violence Advocates.
11.4 Essex Police’s Force Management Statement 2024 includes Stalking, our FMS for 2025 will also include detail on Stalking.
Recommendation 12
By 27 March 2025, take steps to make sure that risk identification, assessment and management is effective in all stalking and breaches of orders cases.
Evidence requirement
12.1 Considering implementing the stalking screening tool to support the identification of stalking and the risks associated with stalking.
12.2 Having clear policies and procedures in place for assessing and managing risk in all cases. And where appropriate, embedding recognised risk assessment tools in force systems so that it is easy for officers to access, use and document their consideration of risk and safeguarding.
12.3 Recognising (in policies, guidance and training) the heightened risk associated with breaches of protective orders and measures.
12.4 Implementing screening and checking processes to support the early identification, assessment and management of high-risk cases. This may require stalking and breach of order cases to be considered at daily management meetings.
Our actions
12.1 Essex Police is currently considering implementing the Stalking Screening Tool
12.2 and 12.4 Essex Police has clear policies and procedures in place for assessing risk. We use the recognised DARA risk assessment tool for Domestic Abuse Stalking cases and a Stalking and Harassment Non-DA specific risk assessment process for non-DA. We have a clear process in place for staff to document their consideration of risk and safeguarding.
12.3 Essex Police has provided specific training to officers and staff recently on Stalking, it also has a specific policy on breaches of SPOs. This policy talks in detail about the risk associated with breaches and the use of protective orders.
Recommendation 13
By 27 March 2025, take steps to make sure that force strategies, structures and processes are in place so that police consider an SPO in every stalking case, and apply for an SPO where relevant and appropriate to prevent harm and further offending.
To achieve this, chief constables should review, and revise policy, guidance and supporting processes where necessary.
Evidence requirement
13.1 Local training and guidance on SPOs, including training and guidance for supervisors.
13.2 Mechanisms for supporting investigating officers to identify cases where SPOs would be appropriate and assisting them with SPO applications. This could be through dedicated teams or roles and/or through daily management meetings considering risk and safeguarding.
Our actions
13.1 SPO procedures and guidance have been renewed (with support of the Force Legal team) and the guidance circulated to all Superintendents (Authorising Officers) and Commands. SPO guidance also formed part of the Continued Professional Development programme for our 1,1000 response officers over the summer.
13.2 Essex Police has Points of Contact throughout the force who have received enhanced Stalking Protection Order training and are also the point of contact/subject matter expert for their relevant command. Essex Police also has a Pro-active Orders and Enforcement Team and its own internal legal department who are also able to provide support and guidance to staff.
Recommendation 14
By 27 March 2025, take steps to make sure stalking victims receive the rights they are entitled to under the victim’s code and have access to support services.
Evidence requirement
14.1 Victim needs assessments are always completed.
14.2 Their force has appropriate processes to make sure all stalking victims are told about their rights and under the victims’ code.
14.3 Information about the national and specialist stalking support services available in their force area is easily available to police officers and staff, victims and the general public.
14.4 Victims who would like to receive support are referred to an appropriate service in a timely manner.
14.5 They monitor the number of stalking victims who are referred to specialist support services and take action when referral numbers are low.
Our actions
14.1 Essex Police has clear policies that stipulate Victim Needs Assessments must be completed in every case. We have data and management data available to govern this and where policy isn’t followed a structure in place to deal appropriately.
14.2 and 14.4 Essex Police has a process in place to ensure all victims are told about their rights under the victims code. This is through our Victim Engagement Portal (VEP). This is designed to communicate with victims of crime. It provides victims, officer contact details, an overview of their rights and it signposts them to support services. Victims also get a record of our interaction. By the end of 2024 we will also have introduced Stalking onto Single online Home (SOH) which is our website platform, which will make it even easier for victims to make a report to police.
14.3 There is also a link from our Victim Engagement Portal.
14.5 We monitor the number of stalking and harassment investigations which have been marked for referral to victim support. We are taking action to deal with this where referral numbers are low.
Recommendation 16
By 27 March 2025, work together to review commissioning arrangements and make changes as soon as possible to ensure they embed collaborative working and information sharing between policing and services providing victim support to stalking victims.
Our actions
Essex Operates a Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) arrangements in the 3 upper-tier areas of Southend, Essex and Thurrock. These arrangements are well embeded and working well.
Essex also has a Home Office funded Essex Stalking Perpetrator Service the Specialist Intervention Service. This receieves referrals from the Essex Stalking Intervention Panel (ESIP), Chaired by Essex Police's Stalking and Harrassment Lead. This model mirrors MARAC/MARAT's to bring together intelligence and information about perpetrators to inform a colective action plan.
Agencies who make up the panel include Essex Police, DA victim services, DA perpetrator services, probation, MARAC leads and other professionals on an ad-hoc basis when required.
Recommendation 17
By 27 March 2025, make sure the new College of Policing investigations APP content on case allocation is reflected in the relevant policies relating to the allocation of stalking and breach of order cases for investigation.
Evidence requirement
17.1 Force policies should support the allocation of stalking cases to officers with the right skills and experience, taking into account the potential risk and complexity involved in stalking and breach of order cases.
Our actions
Essex Police is fully compliant with this recommendation.
Recommendation 18
By 27 March 2025, take steps to improve the quality of stalking investigations by taking a victim centred, suspect focussed and context led approach.
Evidence requirement
18.1 Their workforce has the capacity and capability to undertake effective stalking investigations and can apply new and innovative investigation techniques to pursue digital lines of enquiry.
18.2 All reasonable lines of enquiry are pursued, supported by good supervision.
18.3 Arrest and search powers are used to gather evidence from and about suspects.
18.4 The impact on victims is evidenced in witness statements, so it can be used to inform charging decisions and improve the likelihood of successful investigation outcomes.
Our actions
18.1 Essex Police has dedicated Domestic Abuse teams who deal with all High and Medium risk Stalking cases. Standard Risk Stalking cases are investigated by our emergency response teams. All our emergency response officers were refreshed with Stalking training as part of the most recent continuous professional development. This included the most up to date aspects of stalking training.
18.2 Essex Police has a system in place to ensure all reasonable lines of enquiry are followed. Supervisors are equipped to provide support to their officers, additionally online internal resources and points of contact regards Stalking are also available. Essex Police’s internal audit team highlighted we don’t always get this right. We are working hard to make improvements where necessary.
18.3 While there are some excellent examples of this working well. Essex Police’s internal audit team highlighted we don’t always get this right. We are working hard to make improvements where necessary.
18.4 Essex Police has some excellent examples of where this has worked well, however Essex Police’s internal audit team highlighted we don’t always get this right. We are working hard to make improvements where necessary.
Recommendation 20
By 27 March 2025, take steps to improve how their force effectively recognises and responds to online elements of stalking.
Evidence requirement
20.1 The scale and nature of online stalking behaviours informs their strategic understanding of, and the response to, stalking.
20.2 Examples of online stalking are included in locally produced training and guidance material about stalking.
20.3 Clear online safety advice is available to officers and staff, drawing on the College of Policing APP on stalking or harassment when it is developed.
20.4 Appropriate tools, technologies and support services to digitally safeguard victims are procured and officers and staff use these resources when appropriate.
Our actions
20.1 Essex Police has a Problem Profile which includes both scale and nature of Stalking, however it is limited in terms of understanding online stalking behaviour. We are taking action to address this.
20.2 and 20.3 Examples of online stalking are included in locally produced training and guidance material about stalking. Training packages created by our Prevent and Protect Cyber team has been delivered to officers and staff. This also formed part of our training to response officers over the summer. Online Safety Advice is also available to all officers and staff on our internal intranet.
20.4. Essex Police also use GPS Tags in stalking cases as part of the SPO positive requirements.
Recommendation 22
By 27 September 2025, using the information collated by the NPCC lead under recommendation 21, to consider whether and how dedicated stalking officers and staff, or other subject matter experts, can be used to add value and support the force response to stalking.
Our actions
The Force is compliant with this recommendation.
Recommendation 23
By 27 March 2025, implement a mechanism for early screening of crimes to improve the identification, recording and management of all stalking cases.
Evidence requirement
23.1 Forces should consider screening crimes similar to stalking or where stalking behaviours may be present as part of a course of conduct, like harassment, malicious communications and breaches of orders.
Our actions
Essex Police have a process which ensures a supervisor screens crimes. This process already accounts for harassment to be changed to stalking for example. This process doesn’t yet extend to other course of conduct. We are working quickly to address this.
Recommendation 25
By 27 March 2025, explore opportunities to improve how their force works with partners to contribute to a multi-agency response to stalking. This should include considering:
Evidence requirement
25.1 How the force works in partnership with healthcare, the CPS, probation services and other criminal justice partners to manage stalking perpetrators and address their behaviour.
25.2 Whether and how they should collaborate with other forces to effectively and efficiently contribute to multi-agency partnerships on stalking.
25.3 How multi-agency public protection arrangements (MAPPA) are being used to effectively manage stalking offenders.
Our actions
25.1, 25.2 and 25.3 Essex has a jointly commissioned support service for victims of stalking through its countywide domestic abuse contract as well as a separate service for victims of non-domestic stalking, delivered by Victim Support. Essex has also commissioned a stalking perpetrator intervention delivered by The Change Hub. This service delivers one-to-one behaviour change interventions matched to the level of risk identified, and the client’s individual circumstances. Alongside this service, a Specialist Intervention victim worker provides parallel support to the victim, recognising the potential for increased risk whilst a perpetrator is engaged in an intervention.
Essex operates a Stalking intervention Panel (ESIP) which meets on a monthly basis. ESIP seeks to ensure robust management and safety planning relating to those stalking cases which have been determined to be primarily high risk. The intention of ESIP is to not only review safeguarding but also to offer investigative advice and support. With every case discussed there is consideration for SPO or other relevant order.
Essex has robust partnership arrangements in place which support joint working around Stalking. An Essex Stalking Working group meets monthly and includes representatives from victim support agencies, Probation and policing colleagues. The Southend, Essex & Thurrock Domestic Abuse (SETDA) Board meets quarterly and has numerous subgroups that include stalking within their remit.
The DA and Stalking Chapter of the MAPPA Guidance (Nov 21) sets out how to use multi-agency approaches to enhance the management of domestic abuse and stalking offenders, stressing the importance of sharing relevant information and contributing to robust risk management plans in order to protect current and potential victims including children. The Domestic Abuse Problem Solving Team DI will attend MAPPA when a DA offender with ‘known persons at risk’ is being discussed/managed. The DA Problem Solving Teams (DAPST) work with domestic abuse victims to build confidence, support, inform and empower decision making. There are offender managers which create space for action by targeting and apprehending perpetrators and enforcing criminal orders.
Recommendation 27
By 22 November 2024 (56 days from publication), write to HMICFRS, the IOPC and the College of Policing setting out their response to the recommendations made to them. Chief constables should direct their response to the NPCC which should provide a collective response on behalf of all police forces. PCCs and their mayor equivalents should direct their response to the APCC which should provide a collective response on their behalf.
Our actions
This action has been completed.
Recommendation 28
28.1 By 22 November 2025 (56 days from publication), publish on their force website an action plan which explains what their force will do in response to each of the recommendations made to them and send the NPCC a link to where this action plan can be found.
Evidence requirement
28.2 By 27 March 2025 (six months from publication) provide an update to the NPCC describing the progress they have made against their action plans.
Our actions
28.1 This action has been completed.
28.2 This action will be tracked and delivered as per the completion date.