“I Feared I’d Be Killed”: Survivor Says Stalking Fell Between Police Forces

A 40-year-old woman from south Lancashire, who asked to be called Sara to protect her identity, says months of persistent stalking in 2024 left her living in constant fear for her life and struggling to secure timely protection from police.

Harassment That Escalated

Sara, a mother of three and a support worker, says the harassment began after she met the perpetrator at work. Over several months she reports repeated confrontations at her workplace, aggressive behaviour, threats of self-harm from the stalker and frequent loitering near the railway station she once used to commute from.

“It was all consuming,” Sara said. “It changes how you think and how safe you feel. I had to change routines, limit where I went, and at times I didn’t leave the house. I even lied to my children about why we couldn’t go out.”

Cross-County Policing Gaps

Because Sara lives and works in different counties — Lancashire and Greater Manchester — she felt the case slipped between the responsibilities of two police forces. She said that meant crucial steps, such as securing CCTV and taking witness statements, were delayed or left to her to chase, leaving her feeling isolated and unprotected.

Psychological Impact and Support

The repeated harassment left Sara with recurring nightmares, flashbacks and a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). She was supported by Paladin, the national stalking advocacy service, which described her case as a “murder in slow motion.”

“There was that really intense, heightened fear that I am going to die,” Sara said. “The fear is compounded by a lack of immediate action from the agencies meant to protect you.”

Legal Outcome and Calls For Change

Sara’s case ultimately reached court and a restraining order was granted. She urged stronger coordination between police forces, earlier intervention to prevent escalation, and more comprehensive support for victims, including programmes to address stalking behaviour and reduce reoffending.

Rebekah Wilson is the training and advocacy manager at the Wish Centre, which has specialist workers who deal with stalking cases [BBC]

Rising Stalking Figures

Recorded stalking offences in Lancashire have risen sharply in recent years. The county logged 5,756 recorded stalking cases in the 12 months to April — an increase of more than 2,000 over five years, up from 3,340 offences recorded in 2021. Lancashire now ranks sixth highest among the 44 forces in England and Wales for recorded stalking incidents.

Charities and Police Response

Rebekah Wilson, Training and Advocacy Manager at the Wish Centre — a Blackburn-based domestic abuse charity with specialist stalking caseworkers — said awareness of specialist support is increasing. The Wish Centre and other agencies work with victims to conduct risk assessments and create multi-agency safety plans that can include the police and probation service.

Lancashire Constabulary said it recognises the devastating impact stalking can have and has rolled out refresher training for officers. A force spokesperson highlighted that each policing division has a dedicated stalking and harassment point of contact — a specialist detective available to review cases and advise officers — and said the force is committed to putting perpetrators before the courts.

Greater Manchester Police was approached for comment.

What Survivors Want

Survivors and charities say improvements should include faster, better-coordinated responses across borders, clearer victim safeguarding responsibilities, earlier intervention to prevent escalation, and expanded victim support services to address the psychological and practical consequences of stalking.