Standing Against Stalking
This week in assembly, students heard from a representative of the Alice Ruggles Trust, who spoke about the dangers of stalking. The trust was founded after the tragic death of Alice Ruggles, who was murdered by her stalker. It now works to raise awareness and understanding of stalking behaviours.
Students learned that stalking involves repeated, unwanted contact that can cause serious emotional harm. It may not always be violent, but it is often obsessive, persistent, and deeply distressing—sometimes lasting months or even years.
Stalking can happen to anyone, and anyone can be a stalker. It’s more common than many realise. Students were encouraged to seek help if someone repeatedly ignores their boundaries or refuses to accept “no”. Support is available not only for victims, but also for those who may feel they’re struggling with obsessive behaviours and need help to move on.
We were also delighted to welcome in Crime Commissioner for Northumbria Susan Dungwort along with Police Data & Digital Content Lead Ben Cuthbertson and from the local Sunderland team Inspector Ash Hopper. We were also very proud to welcome in Clive Ruggles, who is Alice’s dad and Chair of the trust. Our guests spectated the assembly before filming a piece to be aired on ITV News along with interviews and discussions with some of our students.
