A police chief, who was a victim of stalking for five years, has said her force needs to take the crime more seriously after a critical report found cases were still not being investigated consistently or effectively.

Katy Bourne, who is the Police and Crime Commissioner for Sussex, was obsessively pursued by a man after she was elected to the post in 2012.

The Conservative politician said she had felt let down by the police and prosecutors when she reported the crime and was eventually forced to take out an injunction against the stalker.

Now a report by the police watchdog has said her own force of Sussex still has considerable improvements to make in order to ensure victims of stalking get the support they deserve.

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) publishes its findings on Wednesday following a review into the Sussex force which records the second highest number of stalking offences in England and Wales.

Ms Bourne ordered the review into the way Sussex Police handles stalking cases following the murder of 19-year-old Shana Grice, who was killed by her ex-boyfriend in 2017.