Dr Short is Director of the University’s National Centre for Cyberstalking (NCCR) that was established to address the need for research and analysis of the increased threat of cyberstalking to individuals and society.

“Cyberstalking is a crime and should be reported to the police. It creates fear, distress and disrupts a person’s daily activities and can leave them isolated and depressed,” said Dr Short.

Dr Short’s puts her expertise to good use by working with Bedfordshire Police to transform the investigation of cyberharassment and stalking. The Cyberharassment Project will be hosted by Bedfordshire Police in the dedicated Cyber Hub and is jointly led by the NCCR.

“Online abuse is widespread and something that people report experiencing or witnessing every day. One of the most frightening aspects of threatening communications for people who receive them is the uncertainty of the danger they represent,” said Dr Short.

“This project aims to help understand how to assess the risk of abusive communications and ultimately to work towards changing attitudes to reduce the prevalence of online antisocial behaviour that causes damage to people and the safety of online environments.”

Dr Short has also shared her expertise on several documentaries, including Evil Up Close on the Crime & Investigation Network in 2012, Revenge Porn on Channel 4 in 2015 and BBC Three’s The Troll Hunters in 2016. She is regularly approached by the media as the leading authority on cyberstalking.