In October 2019, the National Stalking Helpline run by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust were one of the organisations to receive funding from the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime through their Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) Fund. Funding was awarded to increase capacity and provide additional support services to Londoners. An estimated 29% of contacts to the Helpline are from London. The London Stalking Support Service will build on the expertise gained from running the National Stalking Helpline service for 10 years, which continues to operate alongside.

 

Within the London Stalking Support Service, advisors offer advocacy to victims with complex cases, who may require extra support in ensuring that their voice is placed at the centre of decision making and their rights upheld, whether this be in securing safe accommodation or working with police to ensure proper investigation and charging of stalking. Several advocates will also be trained to provide trauma-informed psychological support. This is an exciting extension to the National Stalking Helpline and a direct response to recent research with victims of stalking that indicated that 78% of respondents reported symptoms consistent with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Click here to read the report. In addition to this, 91% of stalking victims reported suffering from mental health problems following the experience of being stalked, but on 29% were able to access counselling. In response to this limited accessibility of psychological services, the advisors within the London Stalking Support Service will be trained as Specialist Stalking Psychological Advocates to support each victim to regain a positive sense of themselves, to construct meaning from the experiences they have suffered, expand their repertoire of choice and skills, improve their mental health, and empower themselves to regain control of their life and future.

 

The London Stalking Support Service has already increased support to Londoners who are victims of stalking, whilst the National Stalking Helpline has continued to responding to calls from around the nation. The number of calls continue to increase, especially during lockdown, and the Helpline team are poised and ready to receive calls and administer support.