Stalking

(asked on 30th October 2017) - View Source

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of the introduction of stalking protection orders in 2018 on the number of police investigations of alleged cases of stalking.


Answered by
Sarah Newton Portrait
Sarah Newton
This question was answered on 7th November 2017

Stalking is a serious crime and this Government is committed to supporting victims and tackling and stopping perpetrators at the earliest opportunity. We are also committed to ensuring the police have the tools they need, which is why we consulted on the introduction of a new civil stalking protection order. Primary legislation is required to introduce the order and will be taken forward as soon as Parliamentary time allows.

While it is for the police and Crown Prosecution Service to decide whether to arrest, investigate, charge or prosecute in a particular case, we are very clear that the new order will not be an alternative to bringing forward robust and rigorous investigations and prosecutions where appropriate. The new order would however allow the police and the courts to intervene early, before cases escalate, thereby reducing the harm to victims. The Home Office carried out a full impact assessment on the new stalking protection order which is available at GOV.uk.

Once introduced, the effectiveness of the new orders will be kept under review.

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