Two Metropolitan Police officers have been recognised for their efforts in tackling violence against women and girls, receiving awards from the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC).
Detective Inspector Karen Butler and Acting Detective Inspector Stephen Kelly, both part of the Met’s Stalking Threat Assessment Centre, were honoured for their work in identifying behavioural changes in stalking perpetrators. The centre, a collaboration involving the Met, focuses on reducing reoffending among stalkers and improving outcomes for victims. It also provides guidance to officers handling stalking cases.
Recent data reveals that Butler and Kelly’s efforts led to a 78% reduction in reoffending among over 300 high-risk stalkers.
The officers were presented with their awards at a ceremony hosted by the NPCC in London on Tuesday, 17 September. They were joined by senior Met officials, including Assistant Commissioner Louisa Rolfe and Deputy Assistant Commissioner Helen Millichap.
Assistant Commissioner Louisa Rolfe spoke about the achievements, stating: “I am extremely proud of Karen and Stephen, who have been rightly rewarded for their incredible efforts in supporting the London response to stalking. This win is helping to show Londoners we are going above and beyond to crack down on violence against women and girls.
“As part of our commitment to tackling crime that impacts the lives of women and girls, our teams are leading the way in using cutting-edge technology to better target predatory offenders and using new techniques to identify stalkers as early as possible.”
In a joint statement, Detective Inspector Butler and Acting Detective Inspector Kelly said: “We feel incredibly honoured to have won this award and delighted that the very important work the Met’s Stalking Threat Awareness Centre does has been recognised nationally.
“We are proud of the work we do and are lucky to work with a brilliant team that we can rely on to help us in our mission to tackle stalking, from spotting the signs of being stalked, to helping those who’ve been affected.”
The Met’s Stalking Threat Assessment Centre is part of its broader New Met for London plan, which seeks to enhance support for frontline officers and improve protection for stalking victims. The Met also collaborates with the health sector to encourage behavioural change in offenders through mental health programs and probation management after sentencing.
Stalking and harassment involve repeated actions that cause fear, distress, or threats. If such behaviour occurs two or more times, it may be considered a crime and can be reported to the police.
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