In support of National Stalking Awareness Week, Bedford Borough Council is organising a community walk to raise awareness about stalking and provide people with an opportunity to discuss the issue with others. The walk, scheduled for Friday 26 April, aims to bring together individuals and organisations from across Bedford Borough and Bedfordshire to join forces against stalking.
National Stalking Awareness Week, which runs from 22 to 26 April, serves as a crucial reminder of the persistent issue of stalking and its impact on individuals' lives. The theme for this year's awareness week is "Joining Forces Against Stalking," and all members of the public are encouraged to unite in putting an end to this crime.
Stalking can impact anyone in person or online. This walk is an opportunity for people to come together, share stories, meet professionals who can share advice, and raise awareness of the serious issue of stalking.
Everyone is asked to gather outside the reception of Bedford Borough Hall, Cauldwell Street, Bedford, from 11.15am. The route runs along the river, taking the scenic paths available at a leisurely pace. The group will cross the river at the Butterfly Bridge and return along The Embankment, crossing back at Riverside Bridge.
The event is made possible through the collaboration of various organisations, including Bedfordshire Domestic Abuse Partnership, Bedford Borough Council's Domestic Abuse Team, Victim Support, and Early Childhood Partnership.
"Stalking involves a person becoming fixated or obsessed with another and is a pattern of persistent and unwanted attention that makes you feel hounded, scared anxious or harassed” said Caroline Mackechnie Jarvis, Domestic Abuse and Housing Project Lead Officer at Bedford Borough Council.
She added, "Stalking is a crime, whether it takes place online or offline and we must come together as a community to combat it."
Anyone can be affected by stalking, and everyone is welcome to join this walk, which is expected to last no longer than an hour. Participants are urged to check the weather forecast for the day and dress accordingly.
For those interested in attending, please email Caroline at dasupport@bedford.gov.uk to confirm your participation and allow an estimate of the number of attendees.
For further information about the issue of stalking and National Stalking Awareness Week 2024, please visit www.suzylamplugh.org.
The Bedfordshire Domestic Abuse Partnership should be the first point of contact for anyone that is experiencing abuse or knows someone that might be in need of support. Head to https://bedsdv.org.uk/ or search “Bedfordshire Domestic Abuse Partnership”.
Let's stand together, raise awareness, and end stalking in our community.
#JoinForcesAgainstStalking #NSAW2024