Police share this latest news. Ed
The Hampshire stalking clinic welcomes Dr Troy McEwan, international expert in stalking risk assessment, as key note speaker at a conference in Hampshire later this month.
The day-long conference on Thursday, 20th October will contribute to national discussion around best practice in stalking cases. Hampshire’s stalking clinic model has been recognised as best practice nationally by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust as part of their ‘Out of Sight, Out of Mind’ research published in April 2016.
Police, mental health, probation and victim support
Presentations from the partners of the Hampshire stalking clinic will inform delegates how the clinic works as a multi-agency team from the perspectives of police, mental health, probation and victim support.
The aim is to assist other areas of the country to establish their own multi-agency clinics to best manage stalking.
Clear links to mental ill-health
Hampshire Constabulary Detective Chief Inspector Tim Rowlandson said:
“Stalking is a unique crime, characterised by fixation and obsession and often with clear links to mental ill-health. The psychology behind stalking is complex and needs to be properly understood if we are to have any chance of stopping it.
“In Hampshire we have developed the first multi-agency stalking clinic to review cases of stalking as they’re reported. Police, Probation, the CPS, Mental Health professionals and vitally a dedicated victim advocate work together each month to review the highest risk cases and ensure everything possible is being done to stop the behaviour and keep the victim safe.
“Within the clinic we use a risk assessment developed by Dr Troy McEwan, a clinical psychiatrist from Australia. We are delighted today to welcome Dr McEwan as the key-note speaker at our stalking conference, aimed at helping professionals from around the country to understand stalking better and learn from our experiences in tackling it.”
Aurora New Dawn
Shonagh Dillon, CEO of Aurora New Dawn, said:
“Aurora New Dawn is proud to be part of the Hampshire Stalking Clinic. Having a stalking advocate within the clinic ensures that all victims of stalking are able to access specialist support and the victim’s voice is taken into consideration at every stage of the process.
“We hope that this conference helps to establish an increasing national network of clinics with specialist advocates.”
Stalking is a growing problem
Dr David Morton, Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist at Southern Health, explained:
“The crime of stalking is a growing problem. Studies tell us that one in five of us will be stalked at some point in our lives. This is usually a very short-lived experience involving an ex-partner in the immediate aftermath of a break-up. But, in some cases, stalking behaviour can become sustained and dangerous, both for the victim and the stalker, who may either be mentally unwell or who may become unwell as a result of the obsessive nature of the behaviour.
“The innovative Stalking Clinic brings together the police and probation with concentrated expertise of mental health services. As mental health experts, our role is to provide evidence based risk assessments to protect the victims, assist in early identification of stalking behaviour to protect potential victims, and to work with people to identify ways to stop their obsessive behaviour.”
Rebecca Yates from the National Probation Service said:
“The National Probation Service has provided a continued and proactive service to the Hampshire Stalking Clinic and embraces the innovative and currently unique multi-agency approach to managing those offenders who pose the highest risk of stalking behaviour within our community.”
For further details about the event please visit the Website.
