Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP has today voted to support the Stalking Protection Bill, allowing it to progress to its next stage in Parliament.
The Bill, introduced by Dr Sarah Wollaston MP and backed by Government, builds on ongoing work to strengthen protections for victims of stalking. In 2012 the Coalition Government introduced two new stalking offences, sending a clear message about the seriousness of this crime and that perpetrators should be brought to justice. Last year the maximum sentence for stalking was increased to 10 years in prison.
The Stalking Protection Bill will fill a gap in the law to protect people who are being stalked by strangers, who don’t have the same protections as those stalked by former partners. The Bill would take the onus off victims by introducing Stalking Protection Orders (SPOs), which the police could apply for on their behalf to stop their lives being blighted by stalkers.
Stalking Protection Orders could ban stalkers from contacting their victims directly or indirectly and make sure that they register all their names and address.
The Orders will have a criminal penalty for breach, punishable by up to five years in prison to ensure that there are consequences where an individual does not comply with its conditions. They are not intended to replace prosecution for stalking but to put in place rapid measures through the magistrates courts to protect victims whilst a full investigation is ongoing.
It currently takes around a hundred instances of stalking before victims come forward to make a complaint and Anne-Marie said:
“We want victims of stalking to have the confidence to come forward at an earlier stage in the knowledge that they will be taken seriously and that the police will have the powers to put in place protections on their behalf
“Stalking is a distressing and dangerous crime which can destroy people’s lives. It affects both men and women and its fixated nature means that it can continue for years. It is vital that the police have greater powers to protect victims at an earlier stage. I welcome the progress of this Bill.
“In 2016-17, 959 prosecutions were commenced under the new offences – this is encouraging and shows that the tougher legislation is taking effect. Stalking Protection Orders will fill a gap in the law and take the onus off victims by allowing the police to put in place vital early protection whilst an investigation is ongoing.
Commenting on the Bill, Minister for Crime, Safeguarding and Vulnerability, Victoria Atkins, said:
“Stalking is a terrible form of abuse that can have devastating effect on its victims, which is why this Government is working to protect victims and stop perpetrators at the earliest opportunity.
"We have strengthened the law introducing new stalking offences, and following our public consultation last year, we are now supporting the Private Members Bill, tabled by Sarah Wollaston MP, which will ensure we are able to introduce a new stalking protection order to protect victims at the earliest possible stage.”
Rachel Griffin, chief executive of the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, which campaigns for improved protection for stalking victims and runs the National Stalking Helpline, said:
“We are delighted that the Stalking Protection Bill has passed to the next stage in Parliament. Stalking is a devastating crime that affects over 1 million people in the UK every year, and has a significant impact on victims’ psychological and physical wellbeing. It is imperative that anyone affected by this insidious crime can be confident that they will be protected by robust, sensible and crime specific legislation.
We know that early recognition and intervention can improve the safety of victims by breaking the cycle of obsession and fixation which motivates perpetrators. Stalking Protection Orders could improve responses to stalking, and allow criminal justice professionals to protect victims at the earliest possible stage.
It is vital that all criminal justice professionals, including frontline police officers, are equipped with the tools and knowledge they need to respond to this crime responsibly. These new orders must be introduced with appropriate training, so that police officers are able to take decisive action to restrict concerning stalking behaviours and protect victims. ”
Following its Second Reading, the Bill will now proceed to committee stage in the Commons.