Source: Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) published on this website Tuesday 24 March 2026 by Jill Powell

Young people may not realise they are victims, or even perpetrators, of stalking as increasing time spent online blurs the boundaries of acceptable behaviour, the Crown Prosecution Service has warned.  

It comes as the CPS launches its first Stalking Action Plan - designed to equip prosecutors to tackle the offence in the digital age. The number of stalking offences charged reached a record high last year, with 7,168 offences charged.

Olivia Rose, National Stalking Lead for the Crown Prosecution Service, said:

 “Young people today are growing up in an increasingly digital world. They have faster and wider access to both friends and strangers than any generation before.”

“It’s a real concern that offenders may not recognise when their behaviour crosses into criminality, and victims may not feel empowered to report it. This can leave them feeling even more isolated, and as though their offender cannot be held responsible.”  

Technological change is giving offenders new and inventive ways to contact victims and cross boundaries. Increasingly this includes the use of GPS trackers, social media platforms, online shopping channels and banking apps.  

The CPS’s new Action Plan commits prosecutors to working closely with tech experts, police and victims, to better understand how stalking is evolving online. It also includes work to explore a dedicated statement for children and young people, to help them recognise stalking behaviours they may encounter or display as more of their lives move online.

Reflecting on the impact of the offence, Olivia Rose said:

 “Every day our prosecutors see lives upended, confidence shattered, and safety compromised by stalking. We refuse to stick to the status quo while the environment this offending takes place in rapidly changes.

“Although offending may use digital platforms, the harm is real. As offenders find new ways to stalk and control through technology, we're determined to stay ahead of them. This Action Plan gives our prosecutors the tools to do that, and sends a clear message to victims: you will be taken seriously.”

“This isn’t just a policy refresh. It’s a clear, practical plan for how we will tackle stalking and provide victims with the support they deserve.”  

Prosecutors are also being encouraged to charge breaches of Stalking Protection Orders (SPOs) wherever there is evidence to do so. SPOs can make positive requirements of offenders, such as engaging with mental health services or handing over mobile devices, providing tangible protection for victims. This can both prevent further contact with victims and help break cycles of reoffending. The CPS has also said a new flag for stalking cases will also enable it to better track the progress of charged stalking cases.

Other measures in the Plan include:  

• Providing specialist training for prosecutors to better understand the overlap with other offences and underlying behaviours.  
• Working with police to ensure officers and prosecutors can spot patterns of control and trauma response that underpin stalking.
• Updating the joint protocol on Stalking or Harassment with the National Police Chiefs’ Council to improve how these cases are handled across the criminal justice system and better support victims.
• Improving transparency through the introduction of stalking-specific data flagging, annual scrutiny panels and feedback mechanisms to strengthen policy and practice.

The Solicitor General Ellie Reeves KC MP said:

“Stalking is an appalling crime. Victims are subjected to horrendous and sustained patterns of abuse at the hands of stalkers, and lives can be ruined.

“This government is determined to halve violence against women and girls, and CPS’s new stalking action plan is a vital step forward in how they tackle stalking, especially in a digital age, to better equip prosecutors and work with partners across the criminal justice system. Together, we will tackle this complex crime and improve victims’ experiences.” 

Saskia Garner, Head of Policy and Campaigns at the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, on behalf of the National Stalking Consortium said:

 “The National Stalking Consortium welcomes the CPS Stalking Action Plan which it hopes will bring much-needed improvements for victims of stalking seeking justice through the criminal justice system.  
“We are pleased to see a commitment to developing a new training model on stalking for prosecutors, as well as training on the psychological impact of trauma, to be developed with independent and specialist stakeholders.  

“It is critical that the voices of the stalking victims we work with remain central to this work. We look forward to ongoing engagement to ensure their continued representation in the review of stalking guidance, policies and procedures.”

The full CPS Stalking Action Plan is available to read in full here – CPS Stalking Action Plan 2026-2030 | The Crown Prosecution Service

Source: Department for Education published on this website Friday 20 March 2026 by Jill Powell

Working Together to Safeguard Children March 2026 and a Working Together Summary of the Changes made have been published

The updated version

Clarifies that the guidance applies to all children, including:

• those living with their birth or extended family
• those in kinship care, including special guardianship
• adopted and looked‑after children in foster or residential settings

It also makes clear that practitioners should consider help, support and protection for unborn children where there are concerns.  

Source: Department for Education published on this website Monday 23 March 2026 by Jill Powell

How to make a whistleblowing disclosure about an academy or post-16 provider. Updated March 2026 as written:

What whistleblowing is

You can make a whistleblowing disclosure to report any wrongdoing that’s in the public interest.

Read whistleblowing for employees to find out about:

• what counts as whistleblowing
• how you will be protected by law if you make a disclosure

Who can make a disclosure

You can make a disclosure direct to the Department for Education (DfE) if you are:

• an employee
• a volunteer who has knowledge of the academy or post-16 provider – for example, if you are a trustee in an academy trust

Only employees are protected by law if they make a disclosure directly to their employer. Disclosures made to DfE by volunteers may not receive the same protections. However, DfE will always protect the identity of any whistleblower.

More information on how we handle whistleblowing disclosures is available.

What to include in a disclosure

Give us the full details of your academy or post-16 provider, so we can investigate. Make sure you provide us with its:

• full name, especially if it’s a common name, such as ‘St Mary’s’
• address and postcode

Make a disclosure

You can either make:

• a disclosure direct to your academy or post-16 provider
• a disclosure to DfE

Make a disclosure about an academy

To make a disclosure about an academy, with the option to remain anonymous, use the customer help portal. If you wish to submit a complaint anonymously, use the ‘guest’ option.

Make a disclosure about a post-16 provider

To make a disclosure about a post-16 provider, either:

• use the customer help portal – if you wish to do so anonymously, use the ‘guest’ option
• write to:

Customer Service Team
Department for Education
Cheylesmore House
Quinton Road
Coventry CV1 2WT

What happens after you make a disclosure to DfE

Once we receive your disclosure, we’ll:

• send you an acknowledgement, if you shared your contact details
• confirm that we’ll not contact you unless we need further information for any investigation

We’ll not enter into a conversation with you once we’ve started a formal investigation. This is to ensure we:

• protect your confidentiality and anonymity
• do nothing that could potentially undermine the legitimacy of the outcome of any investigation

Source: Department of Health and Social Care published on this website Thursday 19 March 2026 by Jill Powell

Patients and residents in care homes, hospitals and hospices will no longer be cut off from their loved ones unless in exceptional circumstances, under a government drive to strengthen visiting rights and end blanket bans.

Families and friends play a vital role in care, wellbeing and dignity - yet too many people have still faced unnecessary barriers to visiting, including being excluded from key decisions about their care.

Health and care providers are required to make sure those in health and care settings can see their families and loved ones, but a government review has revealed that many people continue to face barriers in visitation.

Particular concerns were raised about blanket restrictions and family members being denied access to vulnerable patients, as well as residents and families being cut out of decisions around care or visitation.

In recognition of these issues, and as part of a push to deliver cultural change and compliance across all health and care settings, the government will distribute comprehensive guidance and resources to make visitation rights clear.

To make sure people’s rights are being protected, the government will work closely with the CQC to monitor compliance and intervene where necessary.

Resources that health and care settings will receive include:

• an explainer sheet or poster for people that details their visiting ‘rights’ under Regulation 9A and routes to complain if they feel these are not being followed
• draft advice for care homes, hospitals, and hospice providers to use to explain any necessary restrictions to residents, patients, and family members
• a public-facing decision-making process map which sets out important considerations for providers when making decisions about restrictions.

These will be co-produced with people who have experience of the system so they reflect the real needs, and we will work closely with the CQC to make sure visiting is a core part of its reform and improvement programme.

Ministers are exploring bringing forward proposals for legislating visiting rights as part of wider reform work. This would further strengthen the framework around visiting rights - embedding a culture of open visiting and reinforcing the right to be supported by loved ones in setting across health and social care.

Care Right’s UK CEO, Helen Wildbore said:

“We should all be able to have the support of our closest friends or family when we need them. We continually support older people who have access to their trusted loved ones restricted, limiting vital practical support they offer, and causing serious detriment to wellbeing and dignity.  

“We welcome the news that ministers are exploring legislative change to promote the importance of family and carers as equal partners in care. The legal right to a Care Supporter would ensure everyone has access to their trusted loved one when they most need support.”