The variety of stalking offences recorded by police has soared over the past decade, with consultants saying the rise has been pushed by elevated recognition, and expertise making it simpler for perpetrators to trace their victims.
House of Commons library knowledge analysed by the Liberal Democrats discovered greater than 135,000 offences have been recorded final yr, up from slightly below 3,000 10 years in the past.
Significant will increase have been recorded in each a part of England and Wales, with a few of the nation’s largest forces recording enormous rises.
The Metropolitan police recorded 11,798 offences final yr, up from 647 10 years in the past, whereas Greater Manchester police noticed a rise from 96 to 10,649 over the identical interval.
At the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), the variety of offences resulting in fees elevated from 2,305 in 2020-21 to six,790 in 2024-25 – the best on record.
A CPS spokesperson stated: “Stalking offences charged by the CPS have more than doubled in the last five years and reached an all-time high last year. We know that as more of our lives are lived online, the way stalkers offend is changing. Even when abuse is digital, the harm it causes for victims is very real.
“Last month, the CPS launched its first stalking action plan, specifically designed to tackle the evolving nature of the offence in the digital age. We are working with tech and trauma experts to equip our prosecutors with the tools they need to deliver justice for as many victims as possible.”
Almost half of these contacting a specialist helpline run the Suzy Lamplugh Trust charity reported being stalked by an ex-partner, whereas many others knew the perpetrator.
Jo Silver, the interim CEO on the charity SafeLives stated: “Stalking is often part of domestic abuse, especially after a relationship has ended, and it can be a clear warning sign that risk is escalating.
“Technology is making this even easier. Abuse is evolving, meaning perpetrators can now track, monitor and harass victims in ways that mean abuse does not only exist in physical spaces. Stalking is a common feature of post-separation abuse and can have a devastating impact on someone’s sense of safety.”
Silver added: “The rise in recorded offences is concerning, but it’s likely to reflect a combination of factors, including improved awareness and changes in how these crimes are identified and recorded.
“In some cases, behaviours that may previously have been recorded differently are now being recognised as stalking by the police. What matters now is that the response keeps pace. Stalking needs to be understood as part of a pattern of coercive and controlling behaviour, with agencies working together to spot risk early and act quickly.”
The Liberal Democrats are calling for emergency stalking safety notices – just like these used for home abuse – so police have the powers to take motion instantly.
Silver stated such measures had a job to play inside a “wider, joined-up approach” that included “independent stalking advocates, domestic abuse services, and specialist victim support organisations”.
Marie Goldman, the Liberal Democrats’ girls and equalities spokesperson, stated: “Stalking causes untold damage to the lives of victims and can have a detrimental impact on both the mental and physical health of individuals, leaving them and their loved ones living in constant fear.
“These figures show the terrifying scale of the issue here in Britain. We need to stamp out the stalking epidemic which is sweeping the country by ensuring those responsible for this predatory and intimidating behaviour are held accountable and face the full force of the law.”
A National Police Chiefs’ Council spokesperson stated that “policing and the wider criminal justice system must recognise the damage and harm perpetrators cause and protect victims at the earliest opportunity”, including: “This is especially true in a world where new technology is giving perpetrators more opportunities to carry out their offending.”
They stated the behaviour of perpetrators was advanced, and that “prevention and early intervention is crucial to stopping harmful behaviour from escalating”.
“We know stalking has been historically under-reported, with the increase in recorded offences in part down to an increase in public awareness of stalking, which is mirrored in an increased awareness and improved response within policing,” the spokesperson stated.
“This includes ensuring the right questions are asked by call handlers to identify stalking early, ensuring stalking protection orders are considered in all stalking cases, and at the earliest opportunity, and ongoing work with the Home Office and Crown Prosecution Service to ensure the whole criminal justice response to stalking is strengthened.”
