Stopping a stalker – Evidence-based practices to improve police case management and system-wide responses to stalking

Mr Matt Flood¹, Ms Cleo Brandt^1,2,3

¹Victoria Police, Melbourne, Australia, ²International Criminal Investigative Analysis Fellowship (ICIAF), , , ³Criminal Behavioural Analysis Without Borders

Introduction

Following the tragic death of a young woman, allegedly murdered by a stalker in 2020, Victoria Police has taken great steps to identify and address current gaps in practice when responding to complaints of stalking. This particular case generated a groundswell of community interest, leading to a review of the stalking legislative framework by the Victoria Law Reform Commission (VLRC).

Stalking is an intrusive, largely gendered crime, that often disempowers victims and causes significant physical, mental and psychological harm. In Australia, 17% of women and 6.5% of men report being stalked in their adult lifetime.

Methods

This presentation outlines Victoria Police’s response and evidenced-based learnings gleaned from delivery of its Stalking Project thus far.

Victoria Police commenced a project to improve responses to stalking and introduce the Screening Assessment for Stalking and Harassment (SASH) tool to help police recognise and triage stalking cases.

Results

The scoping of the project identified the following key areas as critical to improving responses holistically;

• Police capability to identify stalking,
• Using a triage tool to assess the level of risk
• The role of training to assist police identify stalking
• Ensuring case management approaches can be maintained even after initial police intervention
• Developing a functional workstream to ensure cases can be escalated for specialist management
• Exploring system-wide support to improve outcomes for victims and therapeutic treatments for offenders
• Victim advocacy, offender treatment

For each of these themes, the stalking project has built on both qualitative and quantitative evidence to improve practice, focusing police on establishing effective case management and keeping victim safety at the forefront.

Conclusion:

The delivery of the project has uncovered the need for a significant cultural shift, capability uplift and appropriate tools for police, supported by a broader system-wide response to improve outcomes for victims.

Biography:

Biographies to come