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Nicola Finnerty
Last week the Government launched a consultation with the aim of providing more effective protection to victims of stalking. This consultation is due to last until 5 February.
One of the key proposals is to include stalking as a new offence in the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 (the “Act”). It has been suggested that there is a gap in the law and that an explicit offence of stalking is necessary to give clear guidance to the professionals who deal with this.
I have to say that I absolutely disagree. Stalking is undoubtedly a very serious issue, not least with the advance of technology which allows perpetrators to appear anonymous. However, the existing legislation already provides criminal and civil measures to protect victims of stalking and I cannot accept that their position would be improved by the addition of a separate offence.
It is well known that harassment is not especially well defined in the Act. However, it is clear that it includes a course of conduct which causes alarm or distress to the victim and that in order to be a course of conduct it must happen on at least two occasions.
Compare this with the definition of stalking referred to in the consultation “two or more incidents (causing distress, fear or alarm) of obscene or threatening unwanted letters or phone calls, waiting or loitering around home or workplace, following or watching, or interfering with or damaging personal property by any person, including a partner of family member” and it is difficult to see how the Act falls short. Although the definition of stalking is more detailed, it very obviously falls with the offence of harassment in the Act.
It seems to me that the Government would be better placed spending their time and money providing training on the existing legislation to professionals who deal with harassment and raising public awareness of this and the steps that victims should take.
Advice for victims of stalking
We welcome views and opinions about the issues raised in this blog. Should you require specific advice in relation to personal circumstances, please use the form on the contact page.
Nicola Finnerty
Katie Allard
Jemma Garside
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