There was at least one case of stalking or harassment reported every other day in Wycombe last year, figures have revealed.

The Office for National Statistics has released for the first time police recorded crime data on stalking and harassment at a local level.

It shows that during 2017 in Wycombe, 239 cases of stalking, harassment or malicious communications were reported.

In South Bucks, 108 cases of stalking, harassment or malicious communications were reported to police in 2017. 

There were 106 cases in Chiltern during the same period. 

In Wycombe stalking and harassment has increased by 36 per cent over the past two years, from 152 cases in 2015.

South Bucks cases have increased by 35 per cent, from 70 cases in 2015, while Chiltern has seen a 44 per cent increase over the past two years, from 59 cases. 

The ONS advises these changes could be down to improved reporting by the police.

Katie Ghose, chief executive of Women's Aid, said: "From our work with survivors, we know that many women experience stalking as part of an ongoing pattern of controlling and abusive behaviour after leaving an abusive partner.

"All too often abuse that does not leave bruises is not taken seriously enough. These acts are often not seen as harmful as physical abuse when isolated yet together they create a life filled with threats, a life lived in fear."

Ms Ghose said she was pleased there has been police "progress" regarding stalking.

"The police have clearly taken steps to improve their identification and recording of this crime with a 33 per cent increase in recorded incidents of stalking and harassment across England and Wales in the last year," she explained.

"But the police response to stalking continues to be patchy across forces and more needs to be done to give victims of stalking the confidence that they will be listened to, believed and supported when they report stalking to the police."

The Government is currently passing a Stalking Protection Bill, and has said it is giving £4.1 million to the Suzy Lamplugh Trust to better educate police officers about stalking and harassment.

A Home Office spokeswoman said: "Stalking can have terrifying consequences, which is why this Government is working to protect victims and stop perpetrators at the earliest opportunity."