The parents of Alice Ruggles, who was murdered by her ex-boyfriend in 2016, are continuing their campaign for changes to stalking legislation and for an independent review to be published by the government.
Alice Ruggles, 24, was killed by Trimaan "Harry" Dhillon after he stalked her, driving from his barracks near Edinburgh to her flat in Gateshead. Dhillon was found guilty of her murder and given a life sentence with a minimum term of 22 years.
Dr Sue Hills, 65, and Clive Ruggles, 74, set up the Alice Ruggles Trust to raise awareness and educate young people about stalking. Dr Hills expressed concern that the independent review, submitted in April, could be "submerged" by political changes.
The review, led by Richard Wright KC, is examining whether existing laws adequately protect victims, hold perpetrators accountable, and address emerging forms of stalking, including online abuse. Dr Hills believes victims should not need to express fear for more serious charges to be imposed.
The Alice Ruggles Trust has taught over 4,000 young people about spotting signs of stalking and healthy relationships in the past year, and trained 600 professionals. Lucy Parkinson, a friend of Alice Ruggles, recently ran 250 miles, raising over £16,000 for the trust and awareness of stalking.
Latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show an estimated 1.4 million people aged 16 and over experienced stalking in the year ending March 2025. A government spokesperson stated they are strengthening Stalking Protection Orders and investing over £13 million in specialist teams.