The Police Service of Northern Ireland has relaunched a two-minute romantic comedy-style trailer to draw attention to stalking behaviors. The video depicts a couple where initial actions escalate after the relationship ends. It runs during National Stalking Awareness Week from April 20 to 26.

Originally created by Gloucestershire Police in 2023, the campaign was adapted for Northern Ireland audiences. Stalking involves repeated unwanted actions that cause fear or distress, even without violence threats. Behaviors follow a pattern described as fixated, obsessed, unwanted, and repeated.

New laws criminalized stalking in Northern Ireland in April 2022. From then until March 31, 2025, police recorded 945 arrests and 491 charges. Since October 2023, officers secured four Stalking Protection Orders to restrict suspects and protect victims.

Detective Superintendent Kerry Brennan stated that stalking includes fixated, obsessive, unwanted, and repeated actions, occurring online or in person by known individuals or strangers. She noted victims often endure up to 100 incidents before reporting, leading to fear, trauma, and in some cases murder.

Brennan added that police training has expanded to identify these crimes, with plans to increase use of protection orders. These orders can prohibit contact, establish exclusion zones, or ban social media posts about victims. Breaches count as criminal offenses.

The trailer and related posters appear on PSNI social media this week. Police advise logging all incidents, no matter how minor, and contacting them. In emergencies, dial 999.