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³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour aired a special programme on Monday to mark the 10th anniversary of stalking becoming a specific crime in England and Wales.

Former ITV News anchor and now true crime podcast host Isla Traquair joined Emma Barnett to share her ‘devastating’ experience of stalking in 2021, which she says has changed her life beyond recognition as her stalker stole her sense of safety.

Her next-door-neighbour Jonathan Barrett was found guilty of stalking and was ordered to do 300 hours of community service and pay £715 in costs. He was also handed a restraining order not to contact Isla or to enter or look into her property for one year. But he was not sent to prison.

Listen to Isla’s interview in full by heading to ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Sounds - it’s the episode from 21 November.

In the special programme you’ll also hear Emma speaking to Deputy Chief Constable for Wiltshire Police Paul Mills, the National Police Chief’s Council lead for Stalking and Harassment. Emma put some of the concerns about how stalking is tackled to him.

Woman’s Hour was also granted extremely rare access to a Stalking Threat Assessment Centre in London - which brings together police, health and others all in one place to try to get perpetrators to stop.

You can find links to information and support for victims of stalking by heading to the National Stalking Helpline online.

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