About Network for Surviving Stalking
The charity Network for Surviving Stalking represents UK stalking victims and their families. Established by stalking victim Tracey Morgan 9 years ago, NSS listens to the views of victims and professionals and uses their knowledge and experience to help others. NSS helped set up the National Stalking Helpline in April 2010 alongside the charities Protection Against Stalking and Suzy Lamplugh Trust. In March 2011 Network for Surviving Stalking teamed up with Safety Net Associates Group to launch National Stalking Training Academy to offer a comprehensive training programme on stalking and harassment.
Growing Influence
The founder of Network for Surviving Stalking – Tracey Morgan campaigned for justice for victims for many years. Her case led to the Protection from Harassment Act 1997. Over a decade since the introduction of the Act NSS is still working towards Tracey’s aims.
Our current Chief Executive is Alexis Bowater Watch her in action here… Alexis Bowater BBC Inside Out Programme
Our cyber-stalking expert is Jennifer Perry and our sister charity is Action Scotland Against Stalking
We hope our charity can be a voice for UK stalking victims and their families. We strive to put victims and their experiences at the heart of everything we do. We represent them in a range of influential forums and our work is informed by a network of victims. Network for Surviving Stalking produces the only newsletter for stalking victims in the UK. First launched in 2009, our regular update is now emailed out to hundreds of subscribers.
The day to day running of the charity is down to a small team of nationwide volunteers, advisors and Trustees. We also have distinguished supporters in the fields of Psychology, Policing, Law, Psychiatry and Criminology in the UK.
On April 29th 2010 Network for Surviving Stalking, Protection Against Stalking and Suzy Lamplugh Trust launched the first National Stalking Helpline Funded by the Home Office, The Zochonis Trust and another anonymous private funder, the project now means there is now a source of direct help and advice for stalking victims.
Campaigning
Stalking is still a misunderstood crime. Victims tell us they feel isolated, frightened and lonely. NSS stands up for people who are too terrified to speak out about their ordeal. We sit on the Association of Chief Police Officers ACPO Working Group on stalking and harassment. We provide training for the National Policing Improvement Agency NPIA (contact staff at police stations and control centres throughout the country are being trained about stalking by NSS) We work with a number of other charities to provide information about stalking.
Research
NSS is has strong links with leading academics at the forefront of research into stalking. Dr Lorraine Sheridan is an advisor to the charity. We have assisted her with a number of projects, most recently the largest study of stalking victims in Europe in 2009. We are also working on a research project into online harassment with University of Bedfordshire – ECHO – Electronic Harassment Observation is due to be launched on Friday 24th September 2010.
Media
NSS works with the media to promote sensitive and accurate reporting about the crimes of stalking and harassment. During 2010 we have assisted journalists from almost every national news outlet in the UK. Our media campaign to promote the launch of the National Stalking Helpline was successful in getting the issue of stalking and associated key safety messages at the top of the mainstream newsagenda.
