London - The alarming rise in stalking offenses across England and Wales, reaching record levels, underscores a systemic failure to protect vulnerable populations, particularly women, from gender-based violence. While increased reporting and awareness are positive steps, they also expose the deep-seated societal issues that allow stalking to thrive and the inadequacy of current measures to prevent and address it.

Data from the House of Commons Library shows a staggering increase in police-recorded stalking offenses, from fewer than 3,000 a decade ago to over 135,000 last year. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has also seen a rise in charged offenses, reaching 6,790 in 2024-25 compared to 2,305 a few years prior. These numbers paint a disturbing picture of the prevalence of stalking and the significant impact it has on victims' lives.

While high-profile cases involving celebrities or politicians often dominate headlines, the reality is that the vast majority of stalking victims are targeted by former partners. This highlights the insidious nature of domestic abuse and the ways in which coercive control can extend beyond the confines of a relationship. Stalking is often a continuation of abusive behavior, designed to instill fear and maintain power over the victim.

Hannah Al-Othman, a journalist for The Guardian, points to increased awareness and recognition of coercive control as factors driving the rise in reported offenses. This suggests that progress is being made in identifying and labeling stalking behaviors, but it also underscores the need for continued efforts to educate the public and train law enforcement on the nuances of domestic abuse.

However, awareness alone is not enough. The rise in technology-facilitated stalking presents a new set of challenges. Perpetrators are increasingly using devices like hidden trackers and spyware to monitor and harass their victims. This requires a proactive approach to regulating technology and holding companies accountable for the misuse of their products.

Campaigners warn that the problem of online stalking is evolving rapidly, with domestic abuse charities reporting increasingly sophisticated methods of harassment and surveillance. This underscores the urgent need for stronger laws and regulations to protect victims from online abuse and to ensure that technology companies are taking steps to prevent their platforms from being used for stalking.