New stalking awareness training launched for frontline professionals across Devon and Cornwall

Frontline professionals across Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly are being offered new specialist training to help them better identify and respond to stalking.

The programme has been commissioned by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly using grant funding from the Ministry of Justice, and will be delivered online throughout March by the Hollie Gazzard Trust.

The national charity was founded in memory of Hollie Gazzard, who was 20 years old when she was murdered by her abusive ex-partner while working at a hairdressing salon in Gloucester. During their relationship, she experienced coercive and controlling behaviour. After she ended the relationship, the abuse escalated into stalking.

Hollie’s family were unaware of the level of danger she faced. Her former partner’s behaviour was not recognised as stalking, and the risk to her safety was not fully understood. Her death has since highlighted the potentially fatal consequences of failing to identify stalking behaviours and intervene at an early stage.

The new training is open to anyone working with the public, including specialist domestic abuse practitioners, family support and early help workers, victim advocates, social workers, housing officers, youth workers, police officers and staff, members of the judiciary and magistracy, and representatives from the Crown Prosecution Service.

Six four-hour sessions will be delivered, with a recording of the training also available online for a year to allow wider access.

Stalking is described by the Crown Prosecution Service as fixated, obsessive, unwanted and repeated behaviour. It is recognised as a high-risk form of abuse strongly linked to serious violence. However, it is often misunderstood or minimised, and can be misidentified as harassment until the threat has escalated.

The training aims to build professional confidence in identifying stalking behaviours early, understanding the heightened risks associated with ex-partner stalking, distinguishing stalking from harassment, applying a basic understanding of stalking legislation, assessing risk and implementing safeguarding measures, and signposting victims to specialist support services.

Organisers say the sessions draw on lived experience, research evidence and best practice guidance to strengthen frontline responses and ultimately help prevent serious harm.

Further information about the training and the work of the Hollie Gazzard Trust is available via the charity’s website.