Scottish News
New NHS policy on Stalking
In December 2010 a ground breaking policy developed by the UK’s biggest health board became the first in Scotland to recognise the seriousness of workplace stalking..
NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde health board has over 44,000 employees. It’s now the first health board to have an official policy on stalking. Created by a working group including Ann Moulds of Action Scotland Against Stalking and Strathclyde Police’s Domestic Abuse Task Force, the zero tolerance policy on stalking was drafted after a serious of stalking incidents involving members of staff.
Ann Moulds, founder of ASAS, says the policy sets a “precedent of how stalking should be dealt with within organisations. The structure of the working environment can make it easier for a stalker to track and pursue their victim with relative ease. This is an excellent policy which will allow for early identification of stalking cases, staged interventions through ongoing case management thereby offering the victim protection and support.”
Dr Anne MacDonald, Consultant forensic psychiatrist and working group member, said: “Stalking in the workplace is a highly disturbing unwanted intrusion on a person’s life which can be expected to affect their work, those they work with, and their social network.”
The policy will help managers identify early stalking incidents, offering staff protection and support. It includes mentoring, training of line managers to manage the risk and recognise danger signs as well as a buddy system to support individuals during work activities. The Health Board will also offer lone workers their own GPS “panic buttons” that transmit the precise location of a person in an emergency.
How this story was covered in the media:
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/mobile/news/editor-s-picks/no-more-lurking-in-the-shadows-1.1076964
NHS staff to be given anti-stalker protection – The Scotsman
Staff stalking crackdown by NHS
Scotland’s biggest health board has become the first in Scotland to develop a zero tolerance policy on stalking. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (GGC), …
NHS Glasgow launches anti-stalking policy | Glasgow and West | STV
Victim Support Conference
In October 2010, Ann was invited to speak at an international conference organised by Victim Support Scotland to help raise awareness to the many challenges a victim can face as they progress through the criminal justice system. The topic of the conference was’ To report or not to report; highlighting why victims may choose not to report a crime. This was a forward looking approach to help improve services for victims of crime.
Ann is continuing to raise awareness of stalking crime and is continuing to speak at seminars, conferences and delivering training workshops to organisations.
Top Award for Action Scotland Against Stalking
The hard work of Action Scotland Against Stalking to have stalking recognised as a specific offence in Scotland saw Ann Moulds – founder of ASAS being honoured with the Scottish Charities Award ‘Campaign of the Year 2010’. In November 2010 Ann’s tireless campaign for justice was recognised when she was nominated and won the prestigious award of Public Campaigner of the Year 2010 at the Scottish Politicians of the Year Awards Ceremony.
