Oldham’s Liberal Democrats have welcomed recent news that the Domestic Abuse Bill passing through Parliament will now contain a commitment to establish a national offenders’ register for those convicted of stalking or domestic violence after the House of Lords amended the legislation. 

Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Councillor Chris Gloster, a former police officer with 30 years’ experience, proposed the establishment of just such a register when he brought a motion to last December’s meeting of Oldham Council with the support of the Paladin National Stalking Advocacy Service

Councillor Chris Gloster is elated:  “In light of the recent tragic murder of Sarah Everard, this development brings some hope that in the future serial offenders who are violent towards or stalk their victims will be tracked to prevent their reoffending and save innocent lives.  Serial stalkers and domestic abusers should be put on the national register for violent and sex offenders and subject to greater monitoring by the police and other agencies.  If we track them, we can stop them offending and perhaps save victims like Hollie Gazzard who was murdered by Asher Maslin, who had 24 previous violent offences against several partners.”

The motion carried at the meeting of Oldham Council on 16 December 2020 reads:

Council notes that:

• Stalking and domestic abuse are crimes which are insidious and terrifying, the majority committed by men against women.  Offenders go from victim to victim, yet many remain undetected and un-convicted.

• The evidence shows that domestic abuse has become more prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns.  Some stalkers and domestic abusers go on to commit murder, and tragically the domestic homicide rate, mostly of women, continues to increase.

• Despite clear warning signs that such crimes are often repeated and follow a pattern, much offending behaviour remains undetected by the Police, probation and other agencies, and offenders are left at large.

• Although the provisions of the Domestic Abuse Bill now before Parliament are welcome, the Bill is manifestly deficient in not addressing the importance of robustly tracking and apprehending these offenders.

Council further notes that:

• Whilst the Domestic Abuse Bill would place Clare’s Law (the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme) on a statutory footing, this will place the onus upon victims to come forward to seek information about their partner or a family member and this can sometimes place the victim in danger.

• There is no duty on police services to identify, track and manage stalkers and domestic abusers.

Council believes that:

• It is imperative that serial stalkers and domestic abusers are prioritised and proactively identified, assessed and managed by Police, probation and other relevant agencies, so that intelligence can be shared about their offending behaviour to hold them to account and close down their behaviour.

• The details of stalkers and domestic abusers should be included on the Violent and Sexual Offender’s Register and managed via the Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements.

Council resolves to ask the Chief Executive to write to the Home Secretary asking her to make these changes to more effectively track and apprehend stalkers and domestic abusers, and to copy in our three local Members of Parliament and the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester asking them to make representations to the Home Secretary in support of the Council’s position.

Proposed by:                                                     Seconded by:

Councillor Chris Gloster                                 Councillor Diane Williamson

The Paladin National Stalking Advocacy Service

Paladin was launched in 2013 by Founder Laura Richards and others changed the law to create a specific criminal offence of stalking.  Paladin amplifies the voice of the victim within the criminal and civil justice system, as many victims feel isolated and terrified. Some pay with their lives. Paladin provides a high level of advocacy to anyone at risk of serious harm or homicide from a stalker.

We give initial advice and offer to complete a detailed assessment to anyone who calls our service and is affected by stalking. Sometimes we call this ‘high risk’ and it is based on what we learn from the detailed assessment.  However, in all situations we aim to improve access to the right kind of support for each person and improve co-ordinated working between specialist services to keep each survivor feeling safer.

Our Board is made up of experienced and award-winning professionals including our Chair Rachel Horman, who is a solicitor; Allan Aubeelack former police officer, Zoe Dronfield, Zoe Jones and Tom Cottew. Our patron is philanthropist and prison reformer, Lady Edwina Grosvenor.

Paladin operates a telephone helpline 020 3866 4107 open weekdays 9 am to 3 pm (except Wednesdays when it operates until 5pm).  Enquirers unable to call within these hours can email info@paladinservice.co.uk to arrange a call at a convenient time.

Paladin’s website can be found at https://paladinservice.co.uk/