OPCC launches Stalking and Harassment Workshop

Thursday, 27 April 2023 01:00

Organisations across Wiltshire have been invited to share their knowledge and expertise at specialist workshop designed to look at the best ways to support victims of stalking and harassment.

Working with Wiltshire Police, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) wants to design new and improved practical ways and means to support victims of stalking and harassment across the entirety of the criminal justice sector.

The OPCC has recently funded a new Independent Stalking Advocacy Caseworker (ISAC) and has continued to fund a specialist Court Independent Domestic Violence Advocate (IDVA) at the Wiltshire charity FearLess which supports victims through the criminal justice system.

Changes to the way stalking and harassment is reported has seen an increase in the number of cases reported with new Wiltshire Police Chief Constable Catherine Roper setting Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) as one of the top priorities she wants her officers to tackle.

Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson thinks the workshop will create better working relationships:

“One of the priorities of my Police and Crime Plan is to improve the experience of victims and I am passionate about making it happen.

“We must ensure that victims of these incredibly invasive crimes receive the best support available to them and through our work with organisations such as FearLess, we’re already taking steps to do that.

“This workshop will enable a range of groups who work with victims to come together and share ideas and talk about how we can achieve best practice”

The workshop will run on Wednesday 14 June from 09.30 – 15.00 at Police Headquarters, London Road, Devizes SN10 2DN.

Working with Wiltshire Police, the Office of the PCC has invited organisations that specialise in victim support to a workshop to share their knowledge and expertise, and to design new and improved practical ways and means to support victims of stalking and harassment across the entirety of the criminal justice sector.

It is considered that two representatives from each organisation will be most suitable.

We are currently seeking expressions of interest from providers of services for victims of Stalking and Harassment to attend the event.

If you would like to be considered, please email Nicola.Ward@wiltshire.police.uk by Monday 1 May 2023 with the names and contact details of your two representatives.