Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the training available to magistrates on stalking protection orders.

Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

Stalking Protection Orders are civil orders introduced in 2020 by the Stalking Protection Act 2019. The orders can be applied for by the police in the magistrates’ courts. As in all cases heard in the magistrates’ courts, magistrates will sit with a legal adviser who will advise on the law, practice and procedure to be applied in each case.

To preserve judicial independence, statutory responsibility for the training of magistrates rests with the Lady Chief Justice and is exercised through the Judicial College. All magistrates and HMCTS legal advisers who support them receive induction and continuation training. This includes structured judicial decision-making and guidance and training as appropriate when new legislation is being implemented. Guidance and training are kept under review and regularly updated as appropriate to reflect legislative or other changes.

Found: SPOs are governed by the Stalking Protection Act 2019, supported by statutory guidance issued by the

Found: PART 6 STALKING 3590 Stalking protection orders on acquittal etc (1) The Stalking Protection Act 2019

Found: PART 6 10STALKING 1 90 Stalking protection orders on acquittal etc (1) The Stalking Protection Act

Found: Stalking Protection Act 2019 49 25 An offence under section 8 of the Stalking Protection Act 2019

Found: Stalking Protection Act 2019 49 An offence under section 8 of the Stalking Protection Act 2019 (offence

Found: SPOs are governed by the Stalking Protection Act 2019, supported by statutory guidance issued by the

Found: • The Stalking Protection Act 2019, which makes provision for stalking protection orders.

Found: PART 6 STALKING 69 Stalking protection orders on acquittal etc 20(1) The Stalking Protection Act 2019

Found: • The Stalking Protection Act 2019, which makes provision for stalking protection orders.

Found: PART 6 10STALKING 1 69 Stalking protection orders on acquittal etc (1) The Stalking Protection Act

Found: The Stalking Protection Act 2019 (“the 2019 Act”) makes provision for Stalking Protection Orders and

Found: The Stalking Protection Act 20199 currently enables the police to apply to a Magistrates’ Court for

Found: in exercising functions under section 104 or this Schedule. 110 SECTON 1 OF THE STALKING PROTECTION ACT

Found: The Stalking Protection Act 20199 currently enables the police to apply to a Magistrates’ Court for

Found: management, including the application by police for a Stalking Protection Order when appropriate (Stalking Protection Act

Found: to section 5A of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997. 50 Contrary to section 8 of the Stalking Protection Act