Conservative MP Sarah Wollaston’s Bill on protections for victims of stalking received its second reading in the House of Commons on Friday 19th January and I was present to voice my support. The Bill will introduce Stalking Protection Orders (SPOs) for use by the police against stalkers outside a domestic abuse context (stranger stalkers), which will come with a criminal penalty if breached. This means that victims can be protected at a much earlier stage than under current legislation, which requires criminal charges to be brought to a court before action can be taken.
One in five women and one in ten men have experienced stalking behaviour in their lives and this legislation will help police effectively address the huge volume of cases that have not become criminal but are nevertheless emotionally traumatic for the victim. I applauded Mrs Wollaston’s Bill in the House of Commons and drew attention to its specific provisions for the courts to apply restrictions on a stalker’s internet use, a vital measure in the digital age. This Bill puts the needs of victims first and looks to bridge the legislative gap that currently allows stalkers to act unpunished for too long. It gives police appropriate and effective mechanisms for dealing with something that is, unfortunately, an increasing problem. One in ten women and one in five men are now impacted by stalking during their adult lifetime.
I know that colleagues across the House share my support for Sarah Wollaston’s excellent Bill and I hope that it gives police the means to support victims and intervene in stalking cases at the earliest possible stage. It is an abhorrent behaviour that must be dealt with.