Application and training for Stalking Protection Orders from November 2018 to May 2024
Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.24.037871
I note you seek access to the following information:
- How many stalking protection orders have been sought by MPS, and how many granted, in each of the years since they have been available, if possible (without surpassing limits of costs) broken down per command unit or borough or other geographical division?
- Please also provide any materials used to train and brief officers on how these provisions may be utilised, and any policies concerning what types of officers, units, offices, divisions, departments, or ranks may be best placed, trained, briefed designated or otherwise suited to undertake or oversee these tasks.
Decision
I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.
Please find below information pursuant to your request above.
Q1 - How many stalking protection orders have been sought by MPS, and how many granted, in each of the years since they have been available, if possible (without surpassing limits of costs) broken down per command unit or borough or other geographical division?
Please see attached spreadsheet.
Please also see the below data which has been recorded by the Stalking Threat Assessment Centre who collate/record successful orders.
Stalking Protection Order Data by Borough Command Unit:
| BCU | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 (To end of April) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AS | 6 | 9 | 17 | 4 | 0 |
| AW | 4 | 17 | 11 | 6 | 1 |
| CE | 10 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| CN | 13 | 15 | 25 | 23 | 6 |
| EA | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 2 |
| NA | 8 | 18 | 28 | 19 | 4 |
| NE | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| NW | 1 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 3 |
| SE | 2 | 16 | 12 | 1 | 1 |
| SN | 0 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 2 |
| SW | 6 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| WA | 9 | 36 | 29 | 35 | 9 |
Note: Please note that the two datasets present different figures. This is due to the fact that the excel dataset it is dependent upon officers manually adding the Flags/Tags to the system.
Q2 - Please also provide any materials used to train and brief officers on how these provisions may be utilised, and any policies concerning what types of officers, units, offices, divisions, departments, or ranks may be best placed, trained, briefed designated or otherwise suited to undertake or oversee these tasks.
There is no specific policy/criteria for which officers/units/departments can apply for an SPO and as such any officer can do so.
Please see the attached guidance the MPS provides to officers in the application of SPOs.
The College of Policing and Home office website also contains material that we use to train. College of Policing - Stalking or harassment
Government Site - Stalking Protection Act: statutory guidance for the police