Stalking charges hit record high as UK hotspots are mapped

New data from the Crown Prosecution Service shows that stalking charges have surged, reaching a historic 8,561 cases between April 2025 and March 2026, more than four times the figure five years earlier. Police logged more than 135,000 stalking incidents across England and Wales last year, up dramatically from under 3,000 a decade ago, according to analysis by the Liberal Democrats. Officials attribute the rise to enhanced recording methods and better police identification of stalking behaviour.

The Metropolitan Police logged 11,798 incidents, while Greater Manchester Police reported a jump from 96 to 10,649 in the same period. An interactive map placed Blackpool at the top of the per-capita list with 7.2 crimes per 1,000 residents, followed by Gloucester and Hyndburn. Olivia Rose, the CPS’s National Stalking Lead, praised coordinated efforts with the National Police Chiefs’ Council and the Home Office, emphasizing the need to keep victims central to the response.