WORCESTERSHIRE has one of the highest rates of stalking offences in the country, shock figures have revealed.

In total, 66 people were caught persistently intruding in another person's life in the county, during the first half of this financial year.

The results have been split into local authority areas of South and North Worcestershire - which includes Redditch and Bromsgrove.

South Worcestershire has seen more of the offence committed, with the number standing at 36.

This sees the area rank 5th in the offending table, released by the Home Office as part of a potential crackdown on the crime, and its North counterpart coming in at 7th place.

Although other local authority areas have seen more cases of the crime committed, the table is ranked on how many have been committed per 10,000 people.

Because of their relatively low populations, the number of stalking offences has pushed the county up the table.

South Worcestershire has a population of 296,505, while the north's is 278,916.

It means there have been 1.2 stalking cases per 10,000 people in the south of the county and 1.1 in the north of Worcestershire within the time frame.

Examples of stalking include following someone, bombarding them with messages, making unwarranted complaints about them as well as threats and violence towards them.

The Home Office is currently seeking views from police, local authorities, service providers and other agencies on whether it should introduce new measures to offer better protection to victims of stalking, through a Stalking Protection Order, and crackdown further on the crime.

Victims of stalking are asked to give their views on the consultation, too.

It also says, when it comes to stranger stalking, there are fewer measures currently available to offer protection to victims and place restrictions, or positive obligations, on the offender.

Theresa May states in the consultation that the Government wants to ensure victims can live without fear of stalkers.

West Mercia Police has urged victims to come forward, and not suffer in silence.

DCI Sean Paley said: "West Mercia Police take stalking very seriously and have recently updated our response to these offences.

"We record these matters to effectively respond and bring those offenders to justice, as in some very rare cases they can lead to serious harm if the behaviour continues.

Share article

"Anyone who is a victim of stalking should contact the police and not suffer in silence."