Chief Investigator: Dr Sara Afshar Morgan, Associate Professor of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton

Team:

Mrs Katerina Porter, Senior Research Assistant, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton

Dr Rebecca Harris, Research Fellow, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton

Ms Lana Weir, Senior Research Assistant, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton

Lisa Allam, Commissioning Manager, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner

Dr Kirsty Butcher, Principal Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Lead, Multi-Agency Stalking Partnership, Hampshire and Isle of Wight NHS Foundation Trust

Detective Chief Inspector Abigail Leeson, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary

Dr Andrew Bates, Regional Forensic Psychologist, South Central Probation Region (HM Prison and Probation Service)

Rachel Windebank, Operations Director, STOP Domestic Abuse

Partners: Hampshire and Isle of Wight NHS Foundation Trust, University of Southampton, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, South Central Probation Region (HM Prison and Probation Service), STOP Domestic Abuse.

Start date: 1 April 2023

End date: 1 October 2026

Overview

The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Multi-Agency Stalking Partnership (MASP) brings together policing, NHS services, probation, and victim/survivor advocacy organisations to respond to stalking in a coordinated way.

Researchers at the University of Southampton are working with partners to evaluate MASP and understand how multi-agency approaches and psychological interventions may reduce stalking behaviours and improve outcomes for those affected.

This programme of work spans multiple phases of research and evaluation, combining qualitative and quantitative approaches to build a comprehensive understanding of how MASP operates and its impact.

This evaluation is co-funded by NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) Wessex, the Home Office, and the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.

Why This Research is Needed

Stalking involves fixated, obsessive, and repeated behaviours that cause significant distress and fear. It is strongly associated with serious violence, including in cases of homicide.

Despite this, there is limited evidence on how best to intervene with people who have engaged in stalking behaviours, particularly in real-world, multi-agency settings. Existing research on psychological interventions is often based on small samples and short-term outcomes.

This project addresses this gap by evaluating stalking interventions delivered as part of a whole-system, multi-agency response.

The MASP Approach

MASP is a whole-system model that integrates:

·       Multi-agency case management across policing, NHS, probation, and victim/survivor advocacy services

·       Psychologist-led specialist interventions (PLSIs) for individuals using stalking behaviours

·       Use of legal and safeguarding tools alongside therapeutic support

·       Close collaboration between agencies to manage risk and support victim/survivors

How MASP is Being Evaluated

This research combines multiple strands of work to understand both how MASP operates and its outcomes. The evaluation includes:

·       Qualitative research with professionals and individuals who have engaged in stalking behaviours

·       Longitudinal follow-up of people who have completed psychologist-led interventions

·       Analysis of police data to examine reoffending and ongoing risk

·       Comparison of perspectives across individuals, victim/survivors, and practitioners

·       A planned health economic analysis (in collaboration with colleagues at the University of Sheffield)

Together, these approaches aim to identify what works, for whom, and in what contexts.

What We Have Learned so Far

Over a 26-month period of implementation, MASP identified nearly 1,500 individuals using stalking behaviours across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

Key findings include:

·       Individuals ranged in age from 13 to 87 at referral

·       Victim/survivors ranged from 14 to 87

·       Stalking behaviours had typically been ongoing for several months prior to referral, with some cases lasting many years

·       Around 30% of individuals were offered a psychologist-led intervention

·       Children appear to be underrepresented in current data, highlighting an important gap for future work

Ongoing analysis is examining whether engagement with MASP activities reduces further stalking behaviours.

Outputs and Impact

This work is already contributing to national policy and practice:

Standards and Guidance

Co-created standards for interventions with perpetrators of stalking have been developed with multi-agency partners and shared with the Home Office. These represent one of the first publicly available frameworks of this kind (available as a preprint)

Research Outputs:

A series of papers are being developed, including:

·       A whole-system model of MASP (manuscript in preparation)

·       A psychological framework for measuring change in stalking interventions (available as a preprint)

·       An evaluation of intervention outcomes, involving data linkage between police and health services

·       Qualitative research exploring lived experiences of MASP

Knowledge Sharing:

Alongside presentations at local, national, and international conferences, two animations have been developed as part of knowledge exchange activities:

·       The first animation outlines how professionals can work safely and effectively with people who have engaged in stalking behaviour, highlighting the role of psychological approaches and evidence-informed interventions.

·       The second animation provides an overview of the whole-system MASP model.

The team also engages in public awareness activities, including participation in Stalking Awareness Week, with on-campus events involving practitioners such as Independent Stalking Advocates and police safeguarding leads to raise awareness and share learning.

Policy Relevance

·       Findings are informing Home Office work on national standards and commissioning of stalking interventions.

·       The work also responds directly to recommendations from the super-complaint on the police response to stalking.

Ongoing and Future Work

The project is continuing to examine whether, and how, MASP activities reduce the risk of further stalking.

Planned work includes:

·       In-depth qualitative research with individuals who have engaged in stalking behaviours

·       Exploration of how MASP can better identify and support children affected by stalking

·       Co-development of improved measures of behavioural change alongside service users

·       Continued evaluation of long-term outcomes following intervention

Further Information

For more information about this project, please contact: MASPinfo@soton.ac.uk

Additional information about the MASP service can be found via partner organisations, including Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police and Crime Commissioner.