OFFENSIVE Valentine's cards that "romanticise stalking" should be pulled from online stores immediately, a police chief has urged.

Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne - who has been a victim of stalking - said the products that feature misogynistic language and a convicted rapist are "beyond a joke".

It comes a year after the police chief took to social media to call out a greeting card and gift companies who were selling "stalking themed" Valentine’s Day cards.

Following her remarks, greetings card company Thortful took down design that included the phrase: "Stalker? I prefer to say, future husband".

Ms Bourne also slammed products on Etsy including one featuring a character from hit Netflix series You, which includes gruesome scenes of kidnapping and murder.

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A year on, Ms Bourne slammed the commercial giants once again, saying "there is no place for glorifying stalking in today’s world".

She said: “What have we learnt from last year?

"Why is this still happening and when will retailers, who refuse to withdraw these items, realise they are playing a part in the detrimental impact of stalking on current and future victims?

“It might seem like just a greeting card or banter but these designs use threatening and misogynistic language, they turn stalking into a joke and trivialise criminal behaviour.

"This year, I’ve even seen cards romanticising prolific serial killer, rapist and convicted child molester Richard Ramirez. It’s way beyond a joke."

Etsy, a company that the PCC called out last year, publicly celebrates "woman entrepreneurship" citing that 86 per cent of their UK-based sellers are women.

With stalking being a crime that one in five women will experience in their lifetime, the police chief believes it questions these marketplaces and retailers’ values to their customers and their social responsibility to educate their sellers on what’s appropriate for their online stores.

Ms Bourne added: “By allowing these stalking-themed cards and gifts to remain on their sites despite their policies, certain online marketplaces and retailers are not acknowledging that stalking is an extremely harmful crime. Whether these designs focus on pop culture characters or real-life serial killers – there is no place for glorifying stalking in today’s world.

“I continue to successfully bid for and secure funding that goes towards leading the way in stalking interventions and providing victim advocacy services in Sussex. Successful joint working with Sussex Police, partners and agencies is vital in increasing public knowledge and confidence in reporting stalking crimes.

“It was welcome news to hear this week the Government has specified stalking and harassment as a priority offence within the Online Safety Bill. This is a step forward in shining a light on the severity of stalking – but our everyday retailers who sell these items need to step up.”