A BILL ensuring greater protections for victims of stalking has been endorsed by Mid Worcestershire’s MP.
Conservative MP Sarah Wollaston’s bill will introduce Stalking Protection Orders (SPOs) for use by the police against stalkers outside a domestic abuse context, 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.
Mr Huddleston backed the bill and drew attention to its specific provisions for the courts to apply restrictions on a stalker’s internet use
“It gives police appropriate and effective mechanisms for dealing with something that is, unfortunately, an increasing problem.
“I hope 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.”
