STALKING crimes have surged by more than 1,000 per cent in five years, worrying figures have shown.

The data, released by West Yorkshire Police, puts a stark spotlight on how many people are falling victim to this type of crime - and how the number is rising yearly.

In 2017, 563 stalking offences were recorded. That rose to 1,011 in 2018 and 1,089 in 2019, before surging to 4,233 in 2020. By the end of 2021, 6,619 stalking offences had been recorded.

Offences reached a high in November last year, when 601 crimes were recorded.

While the data paints a worrying picture, West Yorkshire Police said there have been a number of changes in how stalking offences are recorded in recent years, evidenced by the increase.

In January 2020, a clarification on counting rules resulted in domestic-related harassment crimes being recorded as stalking offences.

But the figures also show how females - who account for nearly 80 per cent of victims - are disproportionately affected.

Just over 75 per cent of suspects - almost 10,200 - are male.

Recent and upcoming court cases give an insight into the horrendous behaviour victims have been subjected to in Bradford.

In one case, which was heard earlier this month, 43-year-old Abid Khan, of Princeville Street, was handed a community order at Bradford Magistrates’ Court.

He faced a charge of ‘stalking without fear/alarm/distress’ after following his victim in his vehicle “making sexual noises and gestures towards her” in a time period which spanned four months.

Khan is now subject to a curfew, which is electronically monitored, as well as a restraining order and an order which bans him from entering the area where the offence took place.

There has also been a huge surge in cyber stalking, with crimes more than quadrupling over the last two years alone.

In one ongoing case, a Bradford man is accused of repeatedly contacting a female via her social media with “distressing messages and inappropriate content”.

A campaign launched in West Yorkshire last year highlighted how stalking behaviour is “fixated, obsessive, unwanted and repeated” and concern was raised that many could be suffering in silence, not realising they are victims of stalking.

As part of that campaign, West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin said the figures on female victims were “stark” and that stalking offences can often spiral into more violent incidents.

She said: “Prevention is always better than cure, so simply recognising the refuges that women might need to stay safe is not the only answer.

“We must work to stop stalking in the first place.”

Mayor Brabin said she and Alison Lowe, Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, would be working closely with others to help change attitudes and behaviour towards women and girls.

In its response to the figures, which were released through a Freedom of Information request, West Yorkshire Police said: “West Yorkshire Police has a duty to safeguard members of the public and ensure that they can live in an environment free of stalking and harassment.

“The Force takes reports of stalking very seriously and must protect victims and prevent them, and any other people who may be at risk, from coming to further harm.

“Over the last few years there have been a number of changes to the way police forces record offences of stalking in line with the Home Office Counting Rules. These changes in process are evidenced in the increase in stalking offences recorded over time.

“Cyber-related offences are identified through the use of a cyber flag. A cyber flag is required where, it is believed that, on the balance of probability, the crime has been committed in full, or in part, by the use of a computer, computer network, or computer enabled device.”

The force added it must take “must take positive action at all stages of the police response to protect victims and children” and said: “Officers within our Safeguarding Units are responsible for thoroughly investigating stalking offences.

“We work closely with specialist support services to ensure that victims are offered any support they need.”

If you need support, visit www.stalkinghelpline.org