The Hollie Gazzard Trust has today launched a groundbreaking new project aimed at empowering victims of stalking to stay safe and improve their access to justice.
The project, unveiled at the Alice Ruggles Trust National Stalking Conference, is a collaboration between Hollie Gazzard Trust, Paladin National Stalking Advocacy Service, and Panic Guard, developers of the Hollie Guard EXTRA personal safety app.
Gathering victims’ experiences to drive change
Victims and survivors of stalking across the UK are being invited to share their experiences of using Hollie Guard EXTRA — a personal safety app that provides real-time protection, evidence logging, and direct access to a police-approved monitoring centre.
The project will evaluate how using the app improves victims’ safety, confidence, and criminal justice outcomes.
“Viewing the bigger picture in stalking cases is key to keeping victims safe, yet incidents are too often dealt with in isolation,” said Jane Harvey, CEO of the Hollie Gazzard Trust. “Nobody understands the risk better than the victim, but too often their voices are lost in the system. This project is about putting victims’ experiences back at the centre of safety and justice.”
Technology that saves lives
Hollie Guard EXTRA connects users to a 24/7 police-approved monitoring centre. When a user activates an alert, trained call handlers can instantly view their location, assess the risk, and liaise directly with local police control rooms if necessary.
The app also enables users to log and securely store evidence of stalking incidents in the cloud, helping them build a clear record of ongoing harassment.
“We know that for some victims, contacting police can be difficult,” said Kevin Barton, of Panic Guard. “Hollie Guard EXTRA gives them a sense of validation and reassurance. It bridges the gap between feeling unsafe and being believed.”
Voices from survivors
Victim-survivors have been involved in shaping the project. One participant, Scarlett (name changed for safety), described the challenges she faced when first reporting stalking:
“My stalker was outside my house all night. I called 101, but police took days to turn up. I was told to call 999 if he came back — but when I did, the call handler said it wasn’t an emergency. After that, I didn’t want to call again.”
Stories like Scarlett’s highlight the urgent need for victim-centred tools that help individuals document their experiences, feel supported, and get an appropriate response when they reach out for help.
Working together to protect victims
The Paladin National Stalking Advocacy Service, which supports high-risk stalking victims across England and Wales, is a key partner in the initiative.
“We’re pleased to be partnering with Hollie Gazzard Trust and Panic Guard on this project,” said Louise, Chief Operating Officer at Paladin. “Our hope is that it will make our clients feel safer, more confident, and better able to achieve justice.”
Police forces across the country are already adopting Hollie Guard EXTRA to help safeguard victims of stalking and domestic abuse, and this project will provide the first national insight into how such technology impacts real-world safety and outcomes.