Portsmouth proclaims January 2025 Stalking Awareness Month; city highlights local resources

The Portsmouth City Council on Jan. 6 proclaimed January 2025 as Stalking Awareness Month in the city. Councilor Kate Cook read the proclamation, cited national statistics on stalking prevalence and urged residents to support survivors and local services.

"I asked specifically to read this proclamation because I've twice been the victim of stalking," Councilor Kate Cook said before reading the proclamation. The proclamation noted that January was declared National Stalking Awareness Month in 2011 and cited prevalence statistics included in the text: "1 in every 3 women and 1 in every 6 men are victims of stalking in their lifetimes." The proclamation also referenced President Biden’s 2024 call for Americans to speak out against stalking and support advocacy and law enforcement efforts.

The proclamation cited local services and a hotline: the Haven (violence prevention and support) hotline at 603-994-SAFE (603-994-7233) was listed as a 24-hour confidential resource. Councilor Cook also recognized the city’s victim witness advocate and the senior prosecutor, who were invited forward to receive the proclamation, and noted that a local bridge was lit yellow in recognition of stalking awareness.

Why it matters

The proclamation is symbolic policy: it reaffirms the city’s intent to promote awareness, to highlight local support services and to signal municipal solidarity with statewide and national efforts to address stalking and related violence.

What the council did not decide here

The council read and adopted the proclamation as presented; no new programs or funding were authorized during the meeting on this item.