Umme Ali, Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner has responded to the super-complaint on the Police response to stalking.

She said: “I welcome the conversations on stalking and national spotlight on this awful crime.

“Stalking is serious and can have long-lasting effects on victims.

“Stalking must be taken seriously by the police, and I am assured after reading the full report that there are examples of this.

“However, there are concerns where in some cases victims have been let down. Part of my role as Deputy PCC is to support the PCC to work with Bedfordshire Police and our partners reduce such crimes and ensure victims of stalking are heard.

“This features in the forthcoming police and crime plan.

“In the Police and Crime Commissioners office, we fund services that help to tackle stalking.

“We have promoted the work of the Suzy Lamplugh Trust campaign against stalking as well as previously funding the Hollieguard safeguarding app and we continue to promote this.

The Police and Crime Commissioners office have also promoted ‘bystander’ training as a method of tackling VAWG which is a Safer Streets initiative.

Ms Ali further commented “I will continue to champion victims of all crimes and ensure they are put at the heart of policing and the wider criminal justice system”.

Bedfordshire Police has already implemented dedicated officers who work to tirelessly to support victims of stalking and crackdown on perpetrators and ensures victims are given the correct level of support through the investigation.

Since the start of the year, officers from across the force have secured more than 150 charges against individuals and made 215 stalking related arrests.

Read the Bedfordshire Police statement here.

The super-complaint investigation was carried out jointly by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS), the College of Policing, and the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

You can read the full report on the super-complaint made by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust on behalf of the National Stalking Consortium.