A SUPER-COMPLAINT has been launched against the police over claims officers are failing to protect victims from stalking. 

The National Stalking Consortium also says that officers are failing to identify offenders and properly investigate crimes, with just 5 per cent of cases in England and Wales ending in a conviction. 

The problems are systemic, according to the organisation, which is due to submit the super-complaint – a system allowing organisations to raise issues on behalf of the public about harmful trends in policing – in the next few days.

Suky Bhaker, CEO of anti-stalking charity Suzy Lamplugh Trust which runs a support helpline for victims, said a significant number of people are being let down by the police and courts. 

“Failure to identify and investigate stalking at the earliest possible opportunity results in an increasing risk of physical and psychological harm to the victim,” she explained. 

“We hope that the outcome of this super-complaint will result in robust recommendations to improve the police response to stalking across the country which is so vitally needed.”

Campaigners say police often treat stalking incidents as lower level crimes, such as malicious communications or criminal damage, adding that stalking protection orders are not used often enough. 

Giving her backing to the consortium’s super-complaint, Victims commissioner for London Claire Waxman, herself a victim of stalking, said the charge rate remains “unacceptably low,” 10 years after the offences for the crime were introduced. 

“It is clear the justice system is still struggling to identify and tackle stalking robustly, leaving too many victims suffering and at risk,” she said. “Change is well overdue as stalking victims deserve to be protected.”

National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for stalking and harassment Deputy Chief Constable Paul Mills accepted that there is “more to do” to improve outcomes for victims.