Families in Nottingham who were targeted by a stalker have said they were not told that the individual had a violent past, despite the matter being referred to the police and the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). Nottinghamshire Police received a complaint and subsequently referred the case, but those affected say they were left in the dark about the risks they faced.
Families kept in the dark
The complaint, made to Nottinghamshire Police, concerned the conduct of a stalker whose violent history was not disclosed to the families being targeted. According to reports, the police referred the matter to the IOPC — the body that investigates serious complaints against police officers in England and Wales — suggesting that there are questions about how the case was handled and whether adequate information was shared with those at risk.
The families involved have expressed frustration that they were not informed of the stalker’s previous violent behaviour. In cases of stalking and harassment, police have powers under the Protection from Harassment Act and other legislation to issue warnings, restraining orders, and in some circumstances to disclose information about an individual’s history to potential victims under the Common Law Duty of Confidentiality and the domestic violence disclosure scheme, commonly known as Clare’s Law. Whether those mechanisms were appropriately used in this case is now under scrutiny.
Why it matters
This case touches on a recurring concern in UK policing: the balance between victim confidentiality, information-sharing protocols, and the duty to protect those at risk of stalking or domestic abuse. When police receive complaints about stalkers with known violent histories, the question of what to tell the victims — and when — is one that has generated legal, ethical, and operational debate for years. The referral to the IOPC indicates that the conduct of Nottinghamshire Police in this case is now subject to independent investigation, which may examine whether established protocols were followed and whether failures contributed to harm.
Stalking is a criminal offence in the UK, and Nottingham has been an area where police and local authorities have worked to improve their response to harassment cases. Any perception that victims were not given information that could have helped them stay safe will be damaging to public confidence in the system.
What happens next
The IOPC investigation will determine whether police officers followed proper procedures and whether any misconduct occurred. In the meantime, the families involved are seeking clarity about what they should have been told and when. The outcome of the investigation may inform broader discussions about information-sharing in stalking cases and could lead to recommendations for police forces on how to handle similar situations in the future. Nottinghamshire Police has not yet commented publicly in detail on the specifics of the case, citing the ongoing IOPC process.
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Source: BBC News, 2 September 2026
It’s concerning to hear that families weren’t informed about the stalker’s violent past. They have every right to know about potential dangers, especially when it involves their safety. The police need to ensure that communication is clear and proactive in such serious situations.