A FORMER police inspector for Falmouth is returning to the area to deliver vital training on dealing with stalking and domestic abuse.

John Trott served as the Police Inspector for Falmouth between 2007 and 2010 before continuing his police career as a detective chief inspector responsible for the Cornwall Public Protection Unit (PPU) before retiring from the force in 2016.

John was the Devon and Cornwall force lead for domestic abuse, stalking and harassment, honour based abuse, female genital mutilation and adults at risk, and so he is perfectly placed to deliver training on the subject.

He said: "Stalking is a misunderstood crime. The crimes are personal, widespread and can have tragic consequences. Victims feel compelled to change their way of life, including moving houses and jobs and cutting themselves off from social media, and being afraid in their homes.

"This should never happen and which is why training is so vitally important because many people do not understand the complexities of stalking or manage to put the stalking into the context of the what the victim is going through."

Almost one in five women and one in ten men have experienced stalking since the age of 16.

John said: "A misconception that stalking is about just celebrities or strangers. This is not the case. Over 80 per cent of victims know their stalker either from a past relationship or through work, neighbours, family and friends. Victims are aged between ten and 73 both female and male, from all backgrounds. Anybody can become a victim of stalking"

As well as offering training to the general public, John will be holding additional sessions for church leaders through Falmouth and Penryn Churches together on January 7.

He said: "I am delighted to be invited to deliver training to those church leaders in order for them to understand the dynamics of domestic abuse, the realities of it and their responsibilities in respect of it in order to help and safeguard victims of abuse and their children who will be amongst their congregations."

The stalking training is being delivered on Tuesday February 5 2019 at Epiphany House in Truro. Tickets can be found via his website www.abusefreelife.com with full details via EventBrite for Cornwall. ( https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/stalking-training-cornwall-multi-agency-respon-tickets-53561550038).