The terrifying and long-lasting impact stalking has on victims’ lives – described as psychological terrorism – has been shared by a Devon survivor in support of National Stalking Awareness Week. 

Latest data from Devon & Cornwall Police has revealed 14,457 stalking and harassment offences were recorded within a 12-month period to February 2025 – an increase of 14.4 per cent compared with the previous 12 months. Although the rise may partly be due to improved recording and better identification of the offences by the force, the need for greater awareness of stalking and its effects on victims, their families and communities, is being highlighted during the awareness week, taking place from April 22 to 25.  

Anyone can become a victim of stalking, a reality that has been experienced first-hand by Devon, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Police Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez. Her stalker, a former partner, received a suspended sentence in 2018. The increase in the number of stalking and harassment offences reported not only to Devon & Cornwall Police but to forces across the UK has led her to describe the problem as an ‘epidemic’ which she says needs to be tackled by focusing on early prevention to stop behaviours from escalating. 

Commissioner Hernandez said: “The unacceptable national statistic that one in five women* will be stalked in their lifetime shows how violence against women and girls has become an epidemic. While the safeguarding of victims is clearly important, it is even more vital to focus on those who have committed violence against women and girls or are at risk of doing so.  

“Violence and abuse is never the fault of anyone but the perpetrator of these cowardly crimes and I will be relentless in holding the Chief Constable to account for reducing stalking and harassment through prevention, education, enforcement, and support for victims.” 

Devon stalking survivor and women’s rights campaigner Alexis Bowater was relentlessly stalked over a period of three-and-a-half years including during the pregnancies of her two children and while she was working as an ITV newsreader in the Westcountry. Her stalker was eventually jailed in 2009 and she has since dedicated much of time to trying to combat violence against women and girls.  

Alexis was honoured with an OBE in the 2022 Jubilee Honours list for services to the safety and equality of women. She continues to campaign for collaborative working to raise awareness of stalking and create positive changes for victims.  

Speaking out about her experience to highlight the importance of National Stalking Awareness Week, she said: “Every woman deserves to live free from fear and violence. You initially think it will go away but instead stalking behaviour escalates. Stalkers don’t stop until they are stopped.  

“By the time my stalker was charged we thought it was a race against time between the police getting him and him getting me and my family. When you are being stalked, you almost normalise it to cope. It’s an insidious crime that escalates. That’s why I completely understand why stalking victims go to the police and say they think they are being stalked instead of realising they are.  

“The impact it has on you is being in a hyper vigilant, terrified, state of survival mode, but you still have to try and carry on with your life. Stalking is described as being psychological terrorism and psychological rape.   

“Traumatised victims are under threat 24/7. They know what’s going to happen to them and who will do it because they have been told by the stalker – but they just don’t know when, which is why it is called ‘murder in slow motion’.  

“That’s why around 80 per cent of stalking victims will suffer from some form of complex post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), often without even realising they have it. Stalkers drape their victims in a cloak of silence making them think no one is out there to help them or will understand, but that isn’t the case.   

“If you think you are being stalked you probably are. Trust your instinct and reach out for help. There are so many people who can help you including the police, the National Stalking Helpline, support services for victims and charities.  

“There is still so much more that can be done to help victims of stalking and there are pockets of outstanding practice both in the UK and all over the world that could swiftly be brought together and implemented to save the lives of women.” 

Stalking is classified as being a pattern of fixated and obsessive behaviour which is repeated, persistent, intrusive and causes fear of violence or alarm and distress for the victim. It is a crime and is one of the most frequently experienced forms of abuse and can escalate to rape and murder. 

If you are concerned about the behaviour of someone you know, there are systems in place to help, including Sarah’s Law and Claire’s Law. Free support is also available from the Devon & Cornwall Police Victim Care Unit – regardless of whether it has been reported to the police or not. To make contact please click here or call 01392 475900. Help is also available from the National Stalking Helpline – 0808 802 0300.  

*Statistic provided by Refuge