WIREDGOV

Victims, charities, the police and public are to be asked their views on how we can protect victims of stalking more effectively, Home Office Minister Lynne Featherstone announced recently.

The consultation on stalking will look at various areas including legislation, training and guidance, and whether a specific offence of stalking is needed.

Home Secretary Theresa May said:

'I have been clear that ending violence against women and girls is a personal priority for me and this government.

'I am determined to ensure that victims of stalking have the protection and support they need. That’s why we are listening to victims and looking at the legislation to make sure we have got it right.

'We are also making sure that the police and law enforcement agencies understand clearly how to use existing powers to intervene early and prevent the terrible suffering and distress that victims of stalking experience.'

Speaking recently in Manchester, at the first of four regional events taking place on stalking, Minister for Equalities and Criminal Information, Lynne Featherstone said:

'Stalking is an issue which profoundly affects many lives, often in devastating ways.

'That is why we included stalking as a priority in our report ‘call to end violence against women and girls’, last autumn. And that is why we followed this up with specific actions to improve our response to this issue this spring.

'That is also why we are launching this consultation today to ask for your views on how we can protect victims of stalking more effectively.'

The protection from harassment act 1997 was designed primarily to capture stalking but in fact extends to other forms of harassment. The act was intentionally designed to be broad in order to capture the variety of tactics employed by stalkers which, when taken separately, may not constitute an offence in themselves.

However, while stalking and cyber stalking are included within the act, some campaigners believe that because these terms are not mentioned specifically the police do not always realise that the act can be used to tackle stalking and fail to take the appropriate action to deal with it.

The consultation will last for at least 12 weeks and will also look at police attitudes to, and training on, stalking and the impact of CPS guidance for prosecutors. It will also address the effectiveness of restraining orders in preventing harassment and stalking.

To coincide with the consultation, the Home Office is running a series of events in November and December with criminal justice systems partners including the police to ensure there is a better understanding of stalking and the damage it can cause to lives among the public and professionals.

Notes to editors

1. To view the consultation visit the Home Office website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/about-us/consultations/stalking-consultation/

2. According to the british crime survey 2010-2011, almost one in 20 women are a victim of stalking every year. Over a lifetime, stalking affects almost one in five women and one in ten men.

3 Key findings from www.stalkingsurvey.com (Opens in a new window) show that a third of victims said they had lost their job or relationship or had been forced to move home because of the stalking.

4. Stalking was included as a priority in the government’s ‘call to end violence against women and girls’ last autumn. To view the ‘call to end violence against women and girls - action plan’ visit www.homeoffice.gov.uk/vawg