The National Stalking Training Academy launches "Cyberstalking: Technology Risks for Victims".
"Making it understandable for front line practitioners"
UPDATE: Now includes the National Guidelines "Digital Stalking: Technology Risks for Victims" authored by Jennifer Perry and issued by the Network for Surviving Stalking and Women's Aid
Click here to download a pdf info sheet about this training course
"A very good professional course - the speaker had an in depth knowledge of the subject and areas that linked into the main area."
"Very useful, both professionally and personally."
Stalking, harassment and bullying has gone hi-tech. Perpetrators now use the Internet, mobile phones and social networks to gather information, monitor, intimidate and humiliate their victims.
You don't have to be a computer geek to cyberstalk someone. There are a lot of easy-to-use, free tools available online, or as downloadable applications for stalkers to use on a range of devices such as computers and mobile phones.
It has never been more important that all practitioners are aware of these risks.
This new one day training course will enable practitioners of any level or background to offer informed, up to date and practical advice to those they encounter who are either at risk from or already victims of this new and growing threat.
The course will join the popular "Understanding and Responding to Stalking" course and delivered exclusively within the National Stalking Training Academy (NSTA).
The NSTA was launched earlier in the year with the backing of Home Secretary, Theresa May and is a partnership between the Safety Net Associates Group, The Network for Surviving Stalking and the National Centre for Cyberstalking Research.
The key aims of the NSTA are to raise awareness about stalking, harassment and cyberstalking by providing frontline practitioners with the training and knowledge they need to combat stalking and support those affected by it.
"Cyberstalking: Technology Risks for Victims"
This course is designed for non-technical attendees.
It will explain the technology and how it works in plain language.
It will cover the National Guidelines issued by the Network for Surviving Stalking and Women's Aid "Digital Stalking: Technology Risks for Victims"
It explains digital footprints and how they can be used to trace perpetrators.
It explains the key technology threats to victims, the risks they pose and advice on how to mitigate those threats.
It will provide step by step advice that non-technical people can easily use.
Elements covered in "Cyberstalking: Technology Risks for Victims" include:
What is cyberstalking/ digital stalking
Warning signs of cyberstalking
Understanding Digital Footprints
Cookies and browser security settings
What are IP Addresses, IMEI and why are they useful.
How to find out where a website is hosted
Mobile phone geolocation risks
Social network privacy concerns
Account takeover and email hacking
Spyware and keyloggers
What are the signs someone has surveillance software on computer or mobile
How to make computer and mobile safe
Steps by step the actions domestic violence survivors should take
Password security
Managing multiple email accounts
Safety tools for victims
Preserving electronic evidence
The Trainer
Jennifer Perry
Jennifer Perry is an internet safety expert and consumer advocate. She wrote the first UK Internet Safety Guide for Survivors of Domestic Violence and Stalking in 2008. In 2012, she wrote new National Guidelines Digital Stalking: Technology Risks for Victims on behalf of the Network for Surviving Stalking and Women's Aid.
Jennifer worked for 20 years in marketing roles for consumer technology companies first in the computer and then in the internet industry. She started using her expertise to help e-victims in 2006.
She works with a wide range of stakeholders including: government, enforcement agencies, industry groups, security and legal experts as well as support charities. This gives her access to the latest thinking on e-crime and anti-social issues facing internet users. Using this collaborative work, she translates 'tech speak' into clear, easy to use information for consumers, helping them to resolve their problems and avoid becoming an online victim.
She helps organisations to develop their online safety strategies, support and policies. She provides training on social networks, online harassment/stalking and reducing online risks.
Jennifer covers a wide range of e-crime topics: fraud, e-shopping, offensive material, social networks. She has a particular interest in online harassment and stalking. She works with domestic violence professionals to help women being cyberstalked by their ex-partners to stay safer. Jennifer was founder of E-Victims.Org a charity that helped victims of online crime. However, the charity ceased operations in September 2010.
Stalking, Harassment and Cyberstalking: Are you doing all you can?
- Extra London event added -
Stalking affects more than 2 million people in the UK every year (British Crime Survey 2009/10). It can lead to rape and murder. It can lead to victims taking their own lives. In every case it steals lives.
Due to the nature of stalking, many agencies, organisations and individuals are in a position to combat this wide reaching problem. By fully understanding and recognising the warning signs and by ensuring that each incident is dealt with correctly and by making full use of the tools available the impact of stalking on its victims can be reduced.
Stalking is not a 'one-off' crime. It is a series of incidents which, when taken in isolation, can appear trivial but when put together become far more sinister.
You are more likely to be a victim of stalking than of violent crime (British Crime Survey)
77% of victims wait until they have had more than 100 incidents of unwanted behaviour before they tell anyone about it.
The National Stalking Training Academy was launched earlier this year with the backing of the Home Secretary to combat this growing problem. It brings together some of the worlds experts in the field to help better understand this devastating crime and train those trying to tackle it. The academy is a partnership between the The Safety Net Associates Group, The Network for Surviving Stalking and the National Centre for Cyberstalking Research.
Training can be delivered in house to your organisation, network or partnership or at one of the scheduled open programme events being held across the country. The cost to attend one of the open programme events has been fixed for 2011 to just £150. In house delivery will cost £1500 (maximum of 30 delegates per day) making the in house delegate rate as low as just £50 per person.
Since its launch earlier this year the academy has already been engaged by a wide range of practitioners and organisations who have recognised that they play an important part this issue, these include:
Housing Providers
Police Forces
Local Authorities
Schools, Colleges and Universities
Health Service
Charities
Victim Services
Probation
Community Safety Partnerships
Youth Offending Services
This training will be delivered at the following dates and venues:
18th January 2012- Birmingham
1st February 2012 - Brighton
3rd February 2012- London
29th February 2012 - Liverpool
1st March 2012 - Manchester
14th March 2012 - Carlisle
28th March 2012 - Cardiff
29th March 2012 - Wrexham
The training can also be delivered to your organisation, network or partnership on an in house basis. please click here for more details
At the launch of the National Stalking Training Academy Home Secretary, Theresa May said:
"Stalking is a deeply disturbing crime with many victims living in fear for years - this has to stop. That is why tackling stalking forms a key part of our action plan to end violence against women and girls"
"We welcome the new training programme which will help improve understanding of stalking and most importantly ensure that all agencies treat it as a serious issue."
National Centre for Cyberstalking Research form partnership with National Stalking Training Academy - 13th April 2011
Following the launch of the National Centre for Cyberstalking Research (NCCR) and its ECHO Research Project, the National Stalking Training Academy are pleased to announce a strategic partnership with the new centre. The launch took place at the start of the first National Stalking Awareness Week at the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) on Monday 11 April 2011,
The National Centre for Cyberstalking Research is part of the University of Bedfordshire and will work with the National Stalking Training Academy to enable the findings from the most up to date, relevant and widest ranging research around cyberstalking to be delivered via its training programme to those who work to prevent stalking and help support its victims.
Cyberstalking has received a great deal of media attention recently with a spate of recent incidents reaching national and international levels. The growth of the problem is something that clearly governments, charities and the public are concerned about.
The increased public consciousness and media coverage of this issue has driven the need for systematic academic research into the prevalence, motivations, impacts and risk assessment which will lead to effective preventions of and responses to cyberstalking. The National Centre for Cyberstalking Research aims to provide high quality research to help, understand and tackle the problem.
The National Stalking Training Academy was launched in March 2011 with the backing of the Home Secretary. It brings together some of the world's experts in this field to help better understand this devastating crime and help train those trying to tackle it.
The National Stalking Training Academy is a partnership between the Network for Surviving Stalking and The Safety Net Associates Group, which is designed to offer a comprehensive training programme. It is backed by a team of experienced advisors and consultants from the areas of law and psychiatry and victims themselves.
The National Stalking Training Academy can be found within the CSP Academy a unique and innovative learning platform designed to enable people from any background to access the highest standard of training and specialist qualifications.
Speaking about the Partnership between the National Centre for Cyberstalking Research and the National Stalking Training Academy:
Professor Carsten Maple CITP, FBCS, Co-Director of the National Centre for Cyber Stalking Research said:
"We believe our research can be research that matters. We want to have an impact on the support that cyberstalking victims receive and working with the National Stalking Training Academy means we can really start to tackle the problem.
"The more we can discover, the better solutions we can offer and this partnership means that we can raise awareness among frontline workers such as the police force and key decision-makers.
"We believe that our partnership with the Network for Surviving Stalking and the National Stalking Training Academy ensures that our cutting-edge research influences this vital training which means that victims receive the best support."
Dr Emma Short CSci AFBPsS Co-Director of the National Centre for Cyber Stalking Research said:
"We are undertaking key research through the NSS-commissioned ECHO project and working with the National Stalking Training Academy will ensure that those on the frontline will be aware of the most important issues."
The Safety Net Associates Group says:
"We welcome the National Centre for Cyberstalking Research as a partner to the academy. In addition to the impressive group of experts the academy already boasts we can now offer individuals and organisations who train through the programme access to the widest ranging and most cutting edge research available. "
At the launch of the National Stalking Training Academy in March Home Secretary Theresa May said:
"Stalking is a deeply disturbing crime with many victims living in fear for years ? this has to stop. That is why tackling stalking forms a key part of our action plan to end violence against women and girls. We welcome the new training programme which will help improve understanding of stalking and most importantly ensure that all agencies treat it as a serious issue."
Chartered Forensic Psychologist Dr Lorraine Sheridan, said:
"For the first time, the very best experts from all the relevant disciplines have been gathered together to provide something that we have needed for many years. Stalking is little understood but suffered by many and this training is essential for all agencies involved in confronting this multi faceted crime."
Dr David James, Senior Psychiatrist and founder of the Fixated Threat Assessment Centre, said:
"The most important current issue in combating stalking is the education of all professionals in the criminal justice and health sectors about the harm it causes and the importance of prompt intervention, prosecution and treatment. Any initiative which fosters progress in this direction is to be welcomed."
Alexis Bowater, Chief Executive of the Network for Surviving Stalking said:
"Training is absolutely vital to understanding and tackling this horrific crime. Stalking needs to be taken more seriously and early intervention is the key. We are delighted to be working with The Safety Net Associates Group to provide a comprehensive programme, open to everyone."
The Safety Net Associates Group said:
"We are pleased to welcome this initiative to the CSP Academy. Our goal in all of the fields we operate is to professionalise the individuals via structured education, training and advice, made accessible to all. We believe The National Stalking Training Academy has brought together the most comprehensive group of experts in this field and we are proud to be a part of it."
National Stalking Awareness Week 2011 - 11th April 2011
This week sees the first ever National Stalking Awareness Week which was launched this morning at Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) by the three leading stalking charities - Protection Against Stalking, Suzy Lamplugh Trust and Network for Surviving Stalking in partnership with ACPO and the Home Office .
Stalking affects more than a million people in the UK every year (British Crime Survey 2009/10). It can lead to rape and murder. It can lead to victims taking their own lives, but in every case it steals lives.
Stalking is not a 'one-off' crime. It is a series of incidents which, when taken in isolation, can appear trivial but when put together become far more sinister.
Due to the nature of stalking, many agencies, organisations and individuals are already in a position to combat this wide reaching problem. By fully understanding and recognising the warning signs, by ensuring that each incident is dealt with correctly and by making full use of the tools available the impact of stalking on its victims can be reduced.
The National Stalking Training Academy was recently launched with the backing of the Home Secretary to do just this. It brings together some of the world's experts in the field to help better understand this devastating crime and help train those trying to tackle it.
Refering to the academy, Home Secretary Theresa May said:
"Stalking is a deeply disturbing crime with many victims living in fear for years - this has to stop... We welcome the new training programme which will help improve understanding of stalking and most importantly ensure that all agencies treat it as a serious issue."
The National Stalking Training Academy is a partnership betweenThe Network for Surviving Stalking and The Safety Net Associates Group it brings together an expert team of advisors and consultants with years of expertise in this field - from the areas of law, psychiatry and victims themselves, to offer a comprehensive training programme for practitioners and organisations from ANY background.
The first offering from the National Stalking Training Academy is a one day training course, being delivered at 24 venues across the country and with the option of "in house" delivery to any agency organisation or partnership.
The one day course "Understanding and Responding To Stalking" is designed to provide an overview of stalking to agencies, organisations or individuals who deal with or have a duty of care to those who are either affected by or are at risk from stalking.
Agencies, organisations and individudals who have either registered already or would l benefit from attending this training course include:
- Police
- Housing Providers
- Universities & Colleges
- Schools
- Security and Close Protection
- Local Authorities
- The CPS
- The Courts
- Victim services
- The media & entertainments industry
- Retail and commerce sectors
- NHS /PCT
- Probation and Prisons services
- Social Services
Course Content
What is stalking?
- Definitions of stalking
- Background/History
- Stalking, Bullying & Harassment
- What constitutes stalking
- Direct/Indirect Stalking
- Cyberstalking
- The four different categories/behaviours of stalking
- What stalking can lead to
- High media profile cases
- Case studies
Who is affected by stalking?
- Who is at risk from stalking
- Victim Profile (everyone is a potential victim)
- The ripple effect
- The impact of Stalking
- The needs of the victim
What is a stalker?
- What leads to stalking
- The four stalker types
- Stalker profiles/behaviour
What can be done about stalking
- Legislation and Guidance (includes; PH act 1997, Secondary legislation, ACPO/NPIA Guidance, CPS Guidance & NSS Guidance)
- Assessing and managing risk
- The role of statutory agencies
- Duty of care
- International approaches
- Available support agencies/initiatives/resources
- Local action and initiatives
Cost
The cost to attend this one day training course at any of the venues in the open programme is now available at the introductory price of just £150 per delegate.
This training course can also be delivered "in-house" to your organisation, network or partnership at the rate of just £1,500 per day (maximum of 30 delegates).
In order to keep the cost of this training for our delegates to a minimum, for open programme events lunch is not provided, tea, coffee and full training materials will be provided at no extra cost.
For details about how you can either attend at one of the venues across the country or arrange "In House" delivery please call 0845 299 7144 or email learning@cspacademy.ac.uk
Understanding & Responding to Stalking - Police Review advertisement - 4th April 2011
Click on Image to enlarge and download
MP's discuss Stalking law and Training Academy - 30th March 2011
More than 80 MPs are calling for an overhaul of stalking laws in a move that could see cyber-stalking made an offence. The MPs, from all parties, also want police to prioritise complaints of stalking and say the crime needs to be defined in law.
Statistics released ahead of a seminar at the Houses of Parliament, show that just 2.2% of all incidences of harassment recorded by police ended in a jail sentence.
In 2009 there were 53,000 offences of harassment recorded by police, leading to 6,581 convictions. Out of those convicted, 18.5% were jailed, the union said.
The latest figures from the British Crime Survey showed that up to five million people experienced stalking or harassment every year.
Experts from the National Stalking Training Academy updated MP's on the latest developments of the training academy and the launch of the first national course on Understanding and Responding to Stalking, this was welcomed by
Elfyn Llwyd, Plaid Cymru's Parliamentary Leader, and chair of the Justice Unions' Parliamentary Group.
Trust Your Instinct Campaign Launched - 16th March 2011
Stalking victims are being urged to trust their instinct in a new campaign being launched today.
It's a crime that's often not taken seriously but can ruin lives and even lead to murder, according to Network for Surviving Stalking, partners of The National Stalking Training Academy.
"We know people still don't recognise stalking behaviour when it's happening to them" says Network for Surviving Stalking Chief Executive Alexis Bowater"even though we may feel uncomfortable with someone's obsessive behaviour ? all too often we put up with it. We think stalkers are sinister figures ? like in films. In reality stalkers can be ex-partners; friends or people you know."
More than 1 million women and 900,000 men report being stalked in the UK every year. Despite the seriousness of the crime, there's a huge problem of under-reporting - putting lives at risk.
Alexis Bowater wants Trust Your Instinct to change attitudes. "So often we don't trust our own instinct. People make us feel uncomfortable but we've been conditioned to ignore it ? laugh it off; hope the problem goes away"
The charity has a new website www.trustyourinstinct.org which features the Stalking Quiz, created by Chartered Forensic Psychologist and criminal profiler Dr Lorraine Sheridan (see our people section for more information). "Stalking is often many separate incidents ? the quiz will help people to see the 'bigger picture'."
The campaign website also features tips on how to report stalking to the police, written by former BBC Crimewatch presenter and Metropolitan Police officer Jacqui Hames, "The police have made mistakes investigating stalking cases in the past. It's a difficult crime to police and we want to help victims to help officers ? it's the best way for everyone to get the most positive outcome to a situation."
To support the launch of the campaign the NSS commissioned Cardiff Based Orchid Films to produce two short films shown below:
The National Stalking Training Academy supports the "Trust Your Instinct" campaign. To follow the campaign on twitter click here, to follow CSP Academy on Twitter click here.
Home Secretary Backs Launch of National Stalking Training Academy - 10th March 2011
The first national stalking training Academy has been launched with the backing of the Home Secretary. It brings together some of the world’s experts in this field to help better understand this devastating crime and help train those trying to tackle it.
Stalking affects more than a million people in the UK every year (British Crime Survey 2009/10). It can lead to rape and murder. It can lead to victims taking their own lives. But in every case it steals lives.
The Network for Surviving Stalking has teamed up with The Safety Net Associates Group to offer a comprehensive training programme. It is backed by a team of advisors and consultants with years of expertise in this field ? from the areas of law, psychiatry and victims themselves.
The National Stalking Training Academy can be found within the CSP Academy www.cspacademy.ac.uk, a unique and innovative learning platform designed to enable people from any background to access the highest standard of training and specialist qualifications.
Home Secretary Theresa May said:
"Stalking is a deeply disturbing crime with many victims living in fear for years ? this has to stop. That is why tackling stalking forms a key part of our action plan to end violence against women and girls. We welcome the new training programme which will help improve understanding of stalking and most importantly ensure that all agencies treat it as a serious issue."
ACPO stalking lead Assistant Chief Constable Garry Shewan, said:
"We are all too aware that the experience of being stalked can destroy the lives of victims. The Training Academy will play a vital role whilst we continue to improve the response and understanding of this crime."
Chartered Forensic Psychologist Dr Lorraine Sheridan, said:
"For the first time, the very best experts from all the relevant disciplines have been gathered together to provide something that we have needed for many years. Stalking is little understood but suffered by many and this training is essential for all agencies involved in confronting this multi faceted crime."
Dr David James, Senior Psychiatrist and founder of the Fixated Threat Assessment Centre, said:
"The most important current issue in combating stalking is the education of all professionals in the criminal justice and health sectors about the harm it causes and the importance of prompt intervention, prosecution and treatment. Any initiative which fosters progress in this direction is to be welcomed."
Alexis Bowater, Chief Executive of the Network for Surviving Stalking said:
"Training is absolutely vital to understanding and tackling this horrific crime. Stalking needs to be taken more seriously and early intervention is the key. We are delighted to be working with The Safety Net Associates Group to provide a comprehensive programme, open to everyone."
The Safety Net Associates Group said:
"We are pleased to welcome this initiative to the CSP Academy. Our goal in all of the fields we operate is to professionalise the individuals via structured education, training and advice, made accessible to all. We believe The National Stalking Training Academy has brought together the most comprehensive group of experts in this field and we are proud to be a part of it."
More than 1.2 million women and 900,000 men are stalked in this country every year
You are more likely to be a victim of stalking than of violent crime (British Crime Survey)
77% of victims wait until they have had more than 100 incidents of unwanted behaviour before they tell anyone about it
For a full list of the experts advising on this programme click here
To find out more about the Stalking Training Academy click here
For more information and statistics on stalking please visit www.nss.org.uk
The Government’s Violence Against Women and Girls Action Plan was launched on 8th March 2011 (International Womens’ Day)
0845 299 7144
Part of the Safety Net Associates Group