Scotland
The Network for Surviving Stalking is pleased to support Action Scotland Against Stalking and its campaign to improve the rights of Scottish victims. Keep up to date with all the campaign news and developments on this page…
Campaign: Action Scotland Against Stalking
Email: stalking.scotland@yahoo.co.uk
What is Action Scotland Against Stalking?
The campaign Action Scotland was launched in March by Ann Moulds, from Ayrshire in Scotland, after a man who tenaciously stalked her for more than three years escaped jail with a lenient sentence. She is a survivor of one of longest and worst stalking cases recorded in Scotland.
Aims & Objectives of the Campaign
Action Scotland says “Stalking is a form of violence against women and needs to be acknowledged and understood as a serious crime which requires serious legislation and serious policing. ”
Campaign founder Ann Moulds said: “It is this which has prompted me to campaign for a change in the law which will give stalking the credence it deserves and women the protection they need.” Action Scotland is campaigning for:
- Stalking Law
- Sentencing in line with the new law
- Offenders’ Register
- Training
- Specialised Knowledge
- Risk Assessment
- Improved response to victims
- Raise public awareness
Supporters of the Campaign
In August, 2009, Action Scotland aligned with The Network For Surviving Stalking to raise public and practitioner awareness of stalking, impact cause and effect and to help drive forward legal change within Scotland.
The Commission for Equality & Human Rights has now placed stalking on its agenda.
South Ayrshire Multi Agency Partnership for Violence against Women is supporting the campaign too.
Other supporters are: Sandra Osborne MP; Lord George Foulkes; Shadow Minister for Justice Richard Baker MSP; Ayrshire and Arran Violence against Women Training Consortium leaders Sandra Paton & Karen Gardner, local government councillors Elaine Little, Anne Galbraith and Mairi Low: South Ayrshire Multi Agency Partnership for Violence Against Women: James Brodie OBE, former national chairman of Victim Support: stalking expert Hamish Brown MBE; and Dr Lorraine Sheridan, Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh.
Testimonials
“I support the campaign to specify stalking as a specific crime in
Scotland. It is frightening for an individual to be subject to the
harassment of a stalker and I will support any legislation introduced
into the Scottish Parliament to specify stalking as a criminal offence.”
Lord George Foulkes MSP
”Stalking is a serious crime and for the victims there is constant anxiety; constant fear of threats; constant trauma; constant concern with family and constant psychological stress. To prosecute such behaviours in Scotland as a minor ‘Breach of the Peace’ does not in my opinion, fully encompass, define or reflect the gravity of the crime and, in respect, I consider that the Law requires to be strengthened.
James Brodie OBE
Former National Chairman, Victim Support Scotland
Latest Action Scotland News
Leading Psychologist calls for ‘policy re-think’ about stalking in Scotland.
Dr Lorraine Sheridan, an expert on stalking from Heriot-Watt University has voiced her concerns about the way the crime is being dealt with…
“Here in Scotland we need a dramatic policy rethink. In too many cases of stalking, the pieces are simply not being fitted together. We need to take a new approach that recognises the chronic, repeated nature of stalking. Stalking often consists of the targeted repetition of behaviours that, by themselves, may appear to be quite harmless (e.g. walking past someone’s house or workplace, sending letters or e-mails, driving behind someone). However, the repeated nature of virtually any behaviour can constitute stalking and its constant and unpredictable nature means that stalking has extreme financial, social, psychological and physical effects on its victims. Many victims state that they wish their stalker would attack them so that they will be taken seriously. Considering how much we now know about stalkers and their impact, this should not be the case.”
Dr Sheridan – who has written extensively about stalking and harassment - makes the warning about Scotland as she analyses the biggest ever survey of Scottish stalking victims. Already some of the evidence is extremely worrying..
She said, “Our research shows in each case an average of 19 people are adversely affected. So, the impact of stalking is not confined to victims The vast majority will lose over £5000 as a direct result of being stalked. More than 90% report physical and emotional effects. and 96% report living in fear of their stalker. Half of the victims had had a prior relationship with the person who became their stalker. More than half were forced to give up social activities, and lost family and/or friends. More than anything, victims want to be taken seriously by the agencies.”
To find out more about Dr Sheridan’s research project email campaign@nss.org.uk
Action Scotland Against Stalking in the media
In the last few months, the campaign has celebrated enormous success with Action Scotland being represented in the Sunday Post, Daily Record, Ayrshire Post, Ayr Advertiser. Ann Moulds has been interviewed on radio; Good Morning Scotland with Phil Goodard, West Sound with Sarah Toom, and Irish Radio too. She’s also been interviewed on BBC Scotland and STV.
Police Training
At present there are moves to introduce training on stalking crime into two of the largest police forces in Scotland. Watch this space for more details.
