PCCs join law enforcement bikers at fundraising rally in support of national stalking charity

Police and Crime Commissioners Joy Allen and Susan Dungworth joined bikers at a motorcycle rally in support of fundraising work for a stalking awareness charity.

The County Durham and Darlington PCC joined her Northumbria counterpart at the England III Blue Knights annual residential ride in Sunderland as the bikers rode out from the Grand Hotel in Seaburn for the two-day event, in support of the anti-stalking charity Alice Ruggles Trust.

The Blue Knights Law Enforcement Motorcycle Group was launched in 1974 by a group of police officer bikers in Bangor Maine, USA, and has since been established worldwide and in Europe.

There are 30 chapters across England including England III in Durham which was one of the first to be established in around 1992 and covers the Scottish Borders down to North Yorkshire.

All 30 members have previously or currently hold ‘powers of arrest’ as this is a requirement for membership and include serving and retired police officers, serving and retired prison staff, Army, Navy, RAF personnel and retired military police.    

Before the start of the rally, members presented a cheque to Professor Clive Ruggles from the Alice Ruggles Trust in support of the organisation’s work educating young people on stalking so they can better understand the signs.

Mr Ruggles’ daughter, Alice, 24, a Northumbria University graduate, was murdered by her ex-partner in her home in Gateshead in October 2016. Her murder was preceded by a prolonged campaign of stalking, with Alice unsure of whether to alert police.

Commissioner Joy Allen is working in partnership with the Alice Ruggles Trust to fund assemblies on stalking in Durham to young people mostly aged 14 to 16 based on Alice’s experiences and providing advice on how to recognise unhealthy relationship behaviour including coercive control and to report it before it escalates.  

So far, 52 schools across County Durham and Darlington have benefitted from the talks.

Joy Allen said: “It was wonderful to officially start the rally and show our support for the fundraising work this group is doing all year round to improve safety and to save lives.

“The Alice Ruggles Trust is a cause close to my heart, and I was honoured to be invited to celebrate the official handover of these funds. The Trust does a tremendous job helping young people to understand stalking and its dangers and this funding will play a vital role in helping to educate and raise awareness of stalking behaviours among our communities to prevent harm.

“Stalking is a priority in my Police, Crime and Justice Plan, as is all violence against women and girls, and it is truly touching that those who serve and have served to protect our communities are continuing to give back their time to keeping people safe. I wish them the best of success in their future efforts.”

The motorcycle club has raised and donated extensive funds over the years, benefitting the Air Ambulance, Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), Care of Police Survivors Charity, Mountain Rescue and several hospices including St Cuthbert’s in Durham.

Drew Agnew, President of England III Blue Knights, said: “As motorcyclists we like to be able to support worthy causes from our activities and that is why The Alice Ruggles Trust was an easy option for us as many members were only too aware of stalking and coercive behaviour.

“As a Law Enforcement Motorcycle Group, it is fantastic that both Joy and Susan took time out of their busy schedule to see the bikes off and this is appreciated by staff members current and retired from our services, not to mention the excellent cause we helping to support, namely the Alice Ruggles Trust, which I know is a top priority for policing in general.”

Ends

‍