Suzy Lamplugh Trust statement on the change to recall measures for certain offenders

We are deeply concerned by the changes to recall measures intended to ease prison capacity. The cohort of prisoners affected includes those serving custodial sentences between 1 and 4 years. These changes will  include those convicted of stalking, given the tendency to impose short sentences on stalking perpetrators, who currently receive an average sentence of just 13 months.  

It is extremely worrying that perpetrators of stalking could be released after 28 days of being recalled.  A breach of licence conditions itself is likely to evidence a further incident of stalking and, therefore, an escalation of risk for the victim.  

While the change in policy excludes anyone who has committed a ‘serious further offence’ it is unclear what the criteria for this will be or if it will include incidents of stalking. Furthermore, stalking is frequently mischarged as other crimes, such as harassment or malicious communications. Perpetrators who may therefore be perceived as low level offenders will be released, leaving victims at risk due to misclassification. 

Given the high rate of reoffending for stalking and the strong correlation between stalking and homicide*, re-release of stalking perpetrators after 28 days following a breach of licence poses a significant threat to victims’ lives. This will also impact the capacity of victim advocacy services, which are essential to protecting victims. It is therefore critical that all stalking offenders, and those exhibiting those behaviours are excluded from the scheme. 

16 May 2025

* Stalking behaviours were found in the antecedent history of 94% of 358 cases of female homicides with male perpetrators in one study - Suzy Lamplugh Trust (2017) Exploring the Relationship between Stalking and Homicide