Claire Chick's murder triggers 'urgent police review' into stalking

ITV News

25-04-2025

The murder of a woman in Plymouth has triggered police to review their treatment of stalking.
Claire Chick was murdered by her estranged husband, despite contacting police six times in the months before her death, an Independent Office for Police Conduct investigation found.
She had told police that "obsessive stalking" by Paul Butler was making her life a "living hell" and that she believed he would kill her.
On Friday 25 April, Butler was jailed for 26 years and nine months at Plymouth Crown Court after pleading guilty to the murder of his former wife, Claire Chick.
Court hears of months of missed opportunities
In the months leading up to her death Claire had told police that Butler was leaving threatening voice notes, phone calls, e-mails and hanging around outside her house.
The court also heard that Butler placed a tracking device on Claire's car and told her he knew her exact movements which left her "frightened".
He was arrested several times by police and released on bail.
Her final statement, which she signed the day before her death, said: "I honestly feel like Butler will kill me if further action is not taken. I am constantly afraid of leaving my house. I am very fearful of what he has done to me and what he will do."
Butler's sentencing coincides with National Stalking Awareness Week, running from 22-25 April.
Recent data from Devon and Cornwall Police reveals a concerning 14.4% increase in stalking and harassment offences, with 14,457 incidents recorded between February 2024-February 2025.
' We need the behaviour of a lot of men to change'
Alison Hernandez, Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner, said: "When you consider the murder of Claire Chick, another woman killed at the hands of a man, it represents a deeply-troubling pattern emerging in this region.
"It's particularly distressing because any of us could find ourselves in such a devastating situation."Hernandez highlighted the persistent nature of stalking behaviours: "The reality is perpetrators of stalking rarely desist, and we know that 98% of women's murders involve a stalking element.
"These individuals represent our most dangerous offenders, and we simply must do more to address this. We need the behaviour of a lot of men to change."
She also acknowledged institutional responsibilities: "Many victims hesitate to come forward due to fear, and often remain with abusive partners because separation frequently triggers escalated violence.
"We must recognise the extraordinarily challenging circumstances many victims face, and particularly, we need police forces to relentlessly pursue known repeat offenders and secure their imprisonment. We cannot place the entire burden of responsibility on the victims."
She went on to highlight the wider issue across not just the region but the whole nation: "The reality is we have got too many men being violent, not just in Devon and Cornwall, but across the country and the globe.
"We need some radical solutions to disrupt what's going on in our communities."
Urgent police review into stalking
Assistant Chief Constable Glen Mayhew said: 'Having met some of Claire's family following her tragic death, the force has conducted an urgent review of all our active stalking investigations.
'This has resulted in immediate changes to our stalking and harassment procedures. New policies have been implemented to ensure we provide greater focus on safeguarding victims, targeting perpetrators at the earliest opportunity and encouraging reporting.
'One of our priorities is to ensure we continue to improve how we investigate stalking and harassment, focusing on dealing proactively with dangerous perpetrators and giving greater confidence to victims of this harmful and dangerous crime.'
' We have a responsibility to call out behaviour'
Across the country, volunteer organisations are spearheading initiatives to transform male attitudes and behaviours towards women and girls.
Man Culture, a group in Plymouth, works directly with men and boys through education, mentorship and community engagement to challenge harmful stereotypes and encourage respect for women.Scott Young, a group member, said: "Our approach centres on addressing inappropriate behaviour safely and compassionately. We have a responsibility to call out behaviour."
He said: "Progress is frustratingly slow, though inappropriate behaviour is being challenged more frequently than in the past.
"When we contextualise these behaviours within a broader culture where rape and murder represent the extreme end of the spectrum.
"Many men dissociate themselves, thinking 'I'm not committing rape or murder, therefore I'm not contributing to the problem'."He went on to say: "It's essential that men actively participate in these crucial conversations."​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Reach out for help and support
First Light is a Cornwall-based charity that helps anyone who is experiencing or has experienced domestic abuse or sexual violence.
Lyn Gooding, from the charity, said: "Claire was in fear of her life and sadly police didn't intervene soon enough in order to protect her, but it's really important that other people who may be experiencing this today reach out for help and support.
"They've undertaken a review, they, you know, they're committed to giving the right response, and they should be held accountable to it, so make sure you make contact if you are scared today.
"If friends or family are concerned about a relative or a friend and who they might be associated with, they themselves can go to the police and make a Claire's Law request. The police are then obliged to do an investigation to see if there's anything that might highlight a person being at risk, and then they will make a suitable disclosure to that individual."