Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of recounting experiences during police complaint procedures on (a) victims and (b) survivors of stalking.

This Government recognises the devastating impact stalking can have on victims and survivors, and that they may be retraumatised by recounting their experiences.

In submitting a complaint, it can be necessary for a complainant to recount some of the episodes which gave rise to their complaints. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) sets the standards for the handling of police complaints and have issued guidance to support police in acting with sensitivity and using appropriate language when communicating with victims of violence against women and girls.

We are committed to taking further action to tackle stalking. That is why we are legislating in the Crime and Policing Bill to issue multi-agency statutory guidance on stalking for agencies (including the police) and announced on 22 October that a specialist barrister has been appointed to lead a review of stalking legislation to ensure it is fit for purpose.