Greater Manchester's stalking hotspots revealed as 'right to know' introduced

A new map has revealed the stalking hotspots in Greater Manchester.

More than 27,000 reports of stalking have been made in Greater Manchester over the last three years. During that time, the number of incidents reported across the city-region has increased every year, rising from 7,776 in 2022 to 9,997 this year - a 28 per cent increase.

The highest number of reports during that period were made in Manchester with 5,531 incidents since 2022, which works out as 9.7 reports per 1,000 people in the city. However, the rate of reports per population was higher in six other boroughs in the city-region.

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At 11.3 reports per 1,000 people, Rochdale had the highest rate, followed by Tameside on 11 and Bolton, Oldham and Salford, all with stalking rates of more than 10. Wigan had a rate of 9.6 incident per 1,000 people over the last three years while Bury's rate was 7.4.

The lowest rate of stalking recorded in Greater Manchester was in Trafford where 1,373 reports were made over the last three years, giving the borough a rate of 5.8. This was followed by Stockport where 1,935 reports were made during that period - a rate of 6.5.

It comes as stalking victims are about to be granted the right to know the identity of their online abusers. Safeguarding minister Jess Phillips said the proposed 'right to know' statutory guidance aims to tell victims the identity of their abuser at the earliest opportunity.

The guidance was inspired by former Coronation Street actor Nicola Thorp, who was stalked and abused online for months by an unknown man who called himself 'the Grim Reaper'. Nicola, who was bombarded by a constant stream of violent and misogynistic