PCC to fund video doorbells to stalking victims to increase their safety and help capture evidence

Victims of domestic stalking and harassment across County Durham and Darlington are set to receive free video doorbells to boost their safety as part of a £10k scheme funded by Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen.

As the nation marks National Stalking Awareness Week, which runs from April 21st-27th, the County Durham and Darlington PCC said free video doorbells would be provided to high or medium risk victims of domestic stalking and harassment to provide extra reassurance, secure evidence and deter offending.

In fulfilling a long-held commitment to prioritise Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), the PCC has invested in a raft of projects to better protect victims of stalking and to enhance support for survivors since she was first elected in 2021.

The Commissioner has previously provided funding to Paladin – the National Stalking Advocacy Service – to deliver Stalking Champions Training which has seen a cohort of 20 frontline or investigative police officers trained to understand the difference between stalking and harassment, current legislative options, the use of Stalking Protection Orders, the impact of stalking on victims, safety advice and the assessment of risk.

The officers will receive Continuing Professional Development (CPD) training over the next three years to ensure their knowledge and skills around stalking is up to date.

The PCC has also funded the roll out of assembly talks in association with the Alice Ruggles Trust in 52 schools across the force area to raise awareness of the early signs of stalking behaviour to prevent future tragedies.  

Data shows there were 1,644 domestic stalking and harassment crimes across the force area in 2023. Of these crimes,there were 1,444 distinct victims of which 733 were a repeat victim.

The latest video doorbell initiative is part of a dedicated Stalking Response Action Plan by the force which includes the distribution of Smartwater forensic marking technology that allows officers to prove perpetrators have been in contact with a victim, an initiative to screen victims’ phones for tracking software and an internal review of crime recording practices to better understand the profile of stalking and harassment crimes in County Durham and Darlington.

One victim of stalking who has already received a video doorbell said: “After experiencing the most unimaginable trauma due to domestic abuse, having a ring doorbell granted to our family has given my children and I a huge sense of protection and comfort - both when we’re at home and also when we’re away.

“It’s a massive reassurance knowing that the property is protected which makes us feel much safer. The camera is really helping us to rebuild our life.”

Launching the initiative, PCC Joy Allen said: “I want every victim, survivor and potential victim of stalking to know that we take their safety and wellbeing extremely seriously. I give them my word that we will leave no stone unturned in the help and support we provide to protect them and help them recover.

“Stalking has a devastating psychological impact, causing distress, fear and anxiety that can last a lifetime. You cannot put a price on peace of mind, and so with the aid of these simple yet effective devices, we will provide a greater level of reassurance to help people regain their quality of life.

“Alongside offering other crime prevention measures and enhanced support from trained officers and specialist services, we will also empower the victim to regain a sense of control over their own safety which in turn will improve their confidence and resilience.

“We know victims often experience over 100 incidents before reporting them to police. As challenging as stalking can be for the professionals to recognise, the law is very clear, and we cannot afford to miss opportunities to secure vital evidence to bring these perpetrators to justice and safeguard present and future victims.

“This is why I will continue to do everything possible alongside our partners to empower victims to seek out help by building trust and confidence in the services we have in place to protect them.”

Under the initiative, victims who are gifted video doorbells will be responsible for controlling their own device.There will be no ongoing subscription cost.

Durham Constabulary would only have access to the footage if it was provided as evidence as part of a subsequent investigation.

National Stalking Awareness Week aims to increase awareness of stalking, its impact and how to combat it and emphasises the importance of partners working together.  

Ends

Picture Shows (L-R): Samantha Home-Jackson from the Problem OrientatedPolicing (POP) Team, Joy Alen and Pat Tate from the Commissioner’s office whoworks with the POP Team

NOTES TO EDITORS:

• The Force has increased the use of Stalking Prevention Orders (SPO) over the last 12 months and there are currently eight in place. Work is ongoing to increase this number further.

• Around 93% of stalking crimes are linked to domestic abuse. The force currently records 2.9 offences of stalking per 1,000 population.
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• Stalking crimes are now reviewed daily by a detective sergeant with crimes from the previous 24 hours discussed and prioritised for action.
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• Officers and staff are encouraged to treat domestic abuse related stalking offences as they would a domestic violence offence where physical contact or injury has occurred and to take positive action such as an arrest or interview under caution.
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• There is now an Independent Stalking Advocacy Caseworker (ISAC) trained within the PCC’s Victims Care and Advice Service (VCAS) to provide support to stalking victims.