Walsall Council is supporting National Stalking Awareness Week (NSAW) by raising awareness of stalking and harassment, while highlighting the support available to residents across the borough.
The annual campaign runs from 20 to 24 April 2026 and is led by the National Stalking Consortium, a network of 21 specialist organisations from across the UK. This year’s theme, Fatal Fixation, focuses on the serious risks linked to stalking, including severe harm and homicide.
Stalking is recognised as a pattern of obsessive and fixated behaviour that is repeated, persistent and intrusive. It can cause fear, alarm and distress for victims and is a criminal offence. It may happen with or without direct threats of violence, and persistent unwanted contact can amount to stalking.
The long-term impact on victims can be severe, affecting both mental and physical wellbeing.
Local Picture in Walsall
Figures from the Safer Walsall Partnership, which includes Walsall Council and West Midlands Police, show that around 10 per cent of all stalking and harassment offences reported across the force area are recorded in Walsall.
The data also highlights that:
- Harassment offences across the West Midlands have fallen compared with last year, with a greater reduction seen in Walsall.
- Reported harassment offences against women are decreasing, although reductions in Walsall are lower than across the wider region.
- Stalking offences are falling at a faster rate than harassment overall, though reductions in Walsall are smaller than across the West Midlands.
- Stalking offences involving female victims are decreasing at a greater rate than harassment overall.
Despite these improvements, stalking and harassment remain underreported, meaning the real scale of offending is likely to be higher.
Women continue to be disproportionately affected. Around two-thirds of harassment victims are women, while approximately 75 per cent of stalking victims are female.
“ Stalking and harassment can have a profound and lasting impact on victims. The data shows that women are disproportionately affected locally.
Agencies across Walsall continue to work together to identify risks, support victims and respond to these offences. Anyone experiencing persistent, unwanted behaviour is encouraged to seek help, speak up and report it. “
Paul Gordon, Director of Resilient Communities, Walsall Council
“ Harassment and stalking are criminal offences, and there are no circumstances where this behaviour is acceptable.
Police use a range of approaches to investigate and resolve stalking and harassment crimes including out of court interventions, prosecutions, and court orders, such as, domestic violence protection orders and harassment protection orders.
Over the winter months, West Midlands Police increased our patrols during the darker nights, targeting areas where there was a heightened risk of offending or vulnerability. This year, we remain committed to continuing this vital work. “
Where to Get Help
Anyone affected by stalking or harassment can seek support from:
- Walsall Council domestic violence and abuse services
- Black Country Women’s Aid
- West Midlands Police
- Suzy Lamplugh Trust
- Alice Ruggles Trust
- Victim Support