Health boards must strengthen the way they deal with stalking to protect both staff and patients, according to Scotland’s only dedicated anti-stalking support charity.

The campaigners say not one of Scotland’s 14 health board has a specific anti-stalking policy for staff, or specific protocols in place if a patient discloses they are a victim or perpetrator of stalking.

Responses to freedom of information requests sent by charity Action Against Stalking also revealed many boards instead rely on policies around bullying, harassment and violence to deal with cases of stalking.

The charity says this approach spreads a myth that stalking must be linked to violence or harassment, rather than it being a standalone crime that causes victims long-lasting psychological, physical and financial distress.

In a report published today to mark National Stalking Awareness Week, the charity is calling for health boards to work with it to set up anti-stalking policies and referral pathways to point people to its support services to better protect staff, patients, volunteers and visitors to NHS sites.

The CEO of Action Against Stalking, Hayley Tennant, said the findings have encouraged the charity to “raise the bar” in its work:

“Policymakers need to understand that stalking cases are more common than they think, more dangerous than they appreciate, and require specific laws, policies and the development of specialised skills to fully address the nature of this crime.

“As a result of our research findings, we are calling on all NHS Chief People Officers, HR Directors and Executive Directorates to proactively engage with Action Against Stalking to consult, evaluate and build robust policies and processes to protect our NHS workforce and patients.”

Research suggests nearly 12% of adults in Scotland experience stalking each year.

Stalking behaviours can include the sending of unwanted letters, emails or texts, spying on or following people, or making threats. A crime is committed if “the course of conduct” is designed to cause, or leads a person to experience, fear or alarm.

As many as 83% of victims report increased anxiety and 24% have suicidal thoughts, according to the Scottish Crime and Justice Survey 2018-20.

A 2024 survey of Action Against Stalking clients found every single person affected felt the crime had a significant effect on their emotional wellbeing, with 13% reporting the impact was so great it had taken over their lives.

The charity says stalking is a public health issue, so healthcare professionals must be equipped with the knowledge to spot the signs and support patients.

While there is little research exploring the number of stalking victims who disclose this to healthcare professionals, Action Against Stalking says the failure to have specific protocols to deal with stalking leaves patients and NHS staff potentially exposed to harms.

The charity says a national standalone NHS anti-stalking policy reflective of all forms of stalking behaviours would ensure mangers are empowered to deal with complaints in a consistent way.

Stalking-specific training should also be offered to health boards’ domestic abuse champions, according to the charity.

Creating a secure referral pathway so community link workers can refer people to Action Against Stalking’s support services will also ensure victims receive the correct support, it says.

Health board leaders were sent the charity’s findings and recommendations earlier this month.

A representative from Action Against Stalking told healthandcare.scot the organisation is now in the early stages of work with several of them to enhance their anti-stalking efforts.

The charity says it will support any health board that wishes to establish an anti-stalking policy or referral pathway to its Throughcare Support Service, as well as provide training around stalking to staff. 

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