#Following

Описание: A short film designed to highlight the impact of stalking and harassment will be shown to teenagers across Derbyshire as part of our revamped schools programme.

‘Following’ tells the story of Jack and Beth, a teenaged boy and girl who are loosely acquainted at school, whose friendship changes when they sit together in a lesson.

The film, produced by the force’s multimedia team and youth engagement officer, will be shown in all secondary schools and colleges in Derbyshire in a lesson curated and delivered by police officers and staff.

It was produced with the support of Derby College and features acting talent from the Performing Arts course at the Joseph Wright campus.

The aim is to raise awareness amongst young people about what stalking and harassment means, how their actions can affect others, and the potential consequences if escalating behaviour goes unchecked.

Following will also be used as a training tool within the force, to continually improve the understanding our officers and staff have of the crime, and the steps we can take to put a stop to it.

Detective Chief Inspector Kerry Pope, who leads our work on tackling violence against women and girls, said: “This short film is not about criminalising classroom relationships. For many, these can be a rite of passage and just a normal part of growing up.

“But there are times when one person will refuse to take ‘no’ for an answer and continues to pursue another person with increased, unwanted attention.

“That behaviour can escalate far beyond a simple one-sided romance and into something altogether more sinister – and it is that kind of issue we are highlighting with this film.

“We want to start that conversation with people at an early age, to show them how their actions can affect someone else and to teach them the consequences if they stray into the potentially criminal.”