Stalking Deemed More Traumatic Than Gunpoint Threat by Victim

A woman who was previously held at gunpoint by her ex-partner has stated that the ordeal was “not as awful as being stalked,” while also criticizing the “shockingly low” number of protection orders issued. Rhianon Bragg, from Rhosgadfan near Caernarfon, Gwynedd, was held hostage for eight hours with a shotgun in 2019. A BBC Wales Live investigation discovered that Welsh police forces issued only five Stalking Prevention Orders (SPOs) in 2023, despite receiving over 8,000 reports. Police officials affirmed that stalking is a priority and expressed their commitment to addressing the crime. Ms Bragg recounted that her ex-partner, Gareth Wyn Jones, subjected her to controlling and threatening behavior for the majority of their five-year relationship. She described the incident: “I pulled up, got out of the car, and then from just in front of me, Gareth leapt out from the shadows, shotgun up at my chest.” She added, “I screamed. It was a shock but not a surprise.” SPOs were introduced in January 2020, shortly after her ordeal. Regarding SPOs, she reflected, “Sometimes I think ‘would that have made a difference to me?’ But actually if here we are nearly five years later and these things still aren’t being implemented, they’re not making a difference to anybody.” While police describe these orders as merely one instrument among several for combating the crime, Ms Bragg voiced criticism regarding their application. She stated, “It’s not a useful tool if you don’t pick it up and use it. It becomes a waste of space in your tool box.” Ms Bragg asserted that the five SPOs issued in Wales during 2023 were insufficient. She commented, “I think the bottom line is that the orders are not working and something needs to be done about that.” She further remarked, “Until stalking is recognised as the widespread issue it is, and until as a society we deal with it effectively. Wales is not anywhere as near as safe as it could be.” SPOs constitute a civil order designed to safeguard victims from subsequent harassment. Law enforcement agencies petition magistrates for such an order, and if approved, violating its conditions constitutes a criminal offense. A Freedom of Information request revealed that only five SPOs were issued in Wales in 2023, a figure identical to those in 2020 and 2021. In 2021, television presenter Ruth Dodsworth’s former husband received a three-year prison sentence for stalking and engaging in coercive and controlling behavior. Additionally, a restraining order was imposed on him, prohibiting contact with Ms Dodsworth. Ms Dodsworth stated, “Make no mistake, the fact he’s been to jail and served his time, doesn’t mean I’ve served my sentence.” She described living “in fear” throughout her marriage, adding that “the consequences are devastating.” She further emphasized, “It’s really important to hammer home the affects stalking can have on someone.” Ms Dodsworth has leveraged her personal experience to foster awareness and empower other individuals facing comparable circumstances. She noted, “By talking about it, I get messages every single day from people who are going through similar things.” While she deemed the quantity of protection orders issued “not good enough,” she also observed that constructive efforts against the crime were “heading in the right direction.” North Wales Police Chief Constable Amanda Blakeman declared it “absolutely critical” that her force addresses stalking with gravity. The force has collaborated with individuals such as Ms Bragg to enhance its training and response protocols. Chief Constable Blakeman expressed, “I’m incredibly grateful to Rhianon working with the force. It’s important we don’t only look at academic work, but lived experience and learn from that.” She acknowledged that the two SPOs issued by her force last year were insufficient. She added, “Work this year has increased the amount of orders we’ve looked at this year, and my intention is to fully support victims who would benefit from them.” The four police forces across Wales reported having dedicated personnel and officers assigned to identify instances where an order might be suitable. This year, North Wales Police additionally appointed a stalking co-ordinator and a detective sergeant. Detective Sergeant Sally White was appointed by North Wales Police in September. Det Sgt White commented, “It’s so important to have a dedicated stalking role because first and foremost stalking can have a really devastating impact on people.” She further admitted, “It’s fair to say we haven’t always got it right previously so there’s plenty of work to do to address that.” Det Sgt White characterized stalking as a complex crime, noting that its indicators are not consistently apparent. She explained, “We’ve introduced training right across the force and a specialist risk assessment to enable all staff to ask really probing questions to identify potential cases.” She also underscored the significance of multi-agency collaboration, evidenced by the integration of stalking panels into their operational framework. Det Sgt White elaborated, “Different agencies have different expertise, so we’ll bring together people like, victim support services, probation, health – and look at all tactical options, to not only stop the perpetrator behaviour but how to best tailor support to the victim.” The Home Office has been contacted for a statement. Individuals impacted by the issues discussed in this article can locate details of supportive organizations through the BBC Action Line. Further information on this topic is available by watching Wales Live on BBC iPlayer. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding their approach to external linking is available.