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| Amber Rudd to introduce asbo-style bans for stalkers Amber Rudd to introduce asbo-style bans for stalkers | |
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| Thousands of stalkers who torment their victims but whom the police do not have enough evidence to charge are to face asbo-style bans, the home secretary will announce on Wednesday. | Thousands of stalkers who torment their victims but whom the police do not have enough evidence to charge are to face asbo-style bans, the home secretary will announce on Wednesday. |
| Amber Rudd is to introduce new stalking prevention orders that will give the courts fresh powers to order offenders at an early stage not to go anywhere near someone they have been compulsively pursuing, especially in cases involving strangers. | Amber Rudd is to introduce new stalking prevention orders that will give the courts fresh powers to order offenders at an early stage not to go anywhere near someone they have been compulsively pursuing, especially in cases involving strangers. |
| Ministers say that as many as 1.5 million women and 830,000 men are victims of stalkers every year, yet the police recorded only 4,168 stalking offences in the 12 months to June. Even fewer – 1,102 cases – were prosecuted in the courts in 2015-16. | Ministers say that as many as 1.5 million women and 830,000 men are victims of stalkers every year, yet the police recorded only 4,168 stalking offences in the 12 months to June. Even fewer – 1,102 cases – were prosecuted in the courts in 2015-16. |
| The introduction of the new civil stalking protection orders will enable the courts to impose restrictions on suspected stalkers, including staying away from their target, restricting their internet use, attending a rehabilitation programme or seeking treatment for mental health issues. | The introduction of the new civil stalking protection orders will enable the courts to impose restrictions on suspected stalkers, including staying away from their target, restricting their internet use, attending a rehabilitation programme or seeking treatment for mental health issues. |
| Breaching the conditions will be a criminal offence with a maximum sentence of five years in jail. Introducing the new orders will require legislation that ministers say they will table as soon as possible. | Breaching the conditions will be a criminal offence with a maximum sentence of five years in jail. Introducing the new orders will require legislation that ministers say they will table as soon as possible. |
| The Home Office said the new orders would offer additional protection at an early stage for anyone who has not been in an intimate relationship with their stalker, helping those targeted by strangers, acquaintances or colleagues, as well as professionals such as doctors who may be targeted by patients. | The Home Office said the new orders would offer additional protection at an early stage for anyone who has not been in an intimate relationship with their stalker, helping those targeted by strangers, acquaintances or colleagues, as well as professionals such as doctors who may be targeted by patients. |
| “Stranger stalkers” are believed to account for as many as 50% of cases, while those cases involving ex-partners are already covered by domestic violence protection orders. The National Stalking Helpline has responded to 3,550 calls so far this year. | “Stranger stalkers” are believed to account for as many as 50% of cases, while those cases involving ex-partners are already covered by domestic violence protection orders. The National Stalking Helpline has responded to 3,550 calls so far this year. |
| Stalkers often delude themselves that they are in a relationship with their victim, causing distress and fear by persistently intruding on their lives through unwanted phone calls, text messages, emails or letters. This can extend in a pattern of behaviour to loitering, following and spying on their victim, ordering goods and services, as well as threats and violence. | Stalkers often delude themselves that they are in a relationship with their victim, causing distress and fear by persistently intruding on their lives through unwanted phone calls, text messages, emails or letters. This can extend in a pattern of behaviour to loitering, following and spying on their victim, ordering goods and services, as well as threats and violence. |
| In one extreme case, a stalker had Googled the name of his victim 40,000 times over the course of a year and had persisted in his attempts to contact his victim despite being handed three restraining orders. | In one extreme case, a stalker had Googled the name of his victim 40,000 times over the course of a year and had persisted in his attempts to contact his victim despite being handed three restraining orders. |
| However, critics fear that the orders will be used as a substitute for pursuing criminal prosecutions by poorly trained police and prosecutors unable to gather evidence. They also voiced concerns that breaches would not be rigorously enforced. | However, critics fear that the orders will be used as a substitute for pursuing criminal prosecutions by poorly trained police and prosecutors unable to gather evidence. They also voiced concerns that breaches would not be rigorously enforced. |
| Rudd said: “Stalking can have devastating consequences, and I am determined that we do all we can to protect victims from these prolonged and terrifying campaigns of abuse that can last years, leaving many people too afraid to leave their homes and unable to get on with their lives. | Rudd said: “Stalking can have devastating consequences, and I am determined that we do all we can to protect victims from these prolonged and terrifying campaigns of abuse that can last years, leaving many people too afraid to leave their homes and unable to get on with their lives. |
| “Four years ago this government created specific stalking offences to ensure those responsible face justice. Today I want to go even further and offer protection at the first signs of stalking, stopping offenders in their tracks.” | “Four years ago this government created specific stalking offences to ensure those responsible face justice. Today I want to go even further and offer protection at the first signs of stalking, stopping offenders in their tracks.” |
| Garry Shewan, Greater Manchester police’s assistant chief constable and the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for stalking and harassment, said: “We want to stop stalkers in their tracks. In the last year, police have recorded 32% more stalking offences and more perpetrators are now being prosecuted. The launch of stalking protection orders will help us intervene earlier and place controls on perpetrators to prevent their behaviour escalating while the crime is investigated.” | Garry Shewan, Greater Manchester police’s assistant chief constable and the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for stalking and harassment, said: “We want to stop stalkers in their tracks. In the last year, police have recorded 32% more stalking offences and more perpetrators are now being prosecuted. The launch of stalking protection orders will help us intervene earlier and place controls on perpetrators to prevent their behaviour escalating while the crime is investigated.” |
| But Harry Fletcher, director of Voice4Victims, said the orders were only an interim measure to tide victims over while the police decided whether to press ahead with a prosecution. “The real issue is why there are so few prosecutions so far under the stalkings laws and why it takes so long for the police to secure evidence to prosecute,” he said. There have been just over 2,000 prosecutions since the new law came into effect in 2012. | But Harry Fletcher, director of Voice4Victims, said the orders were only an interim measure to tide victims over while the police decided whether to press ahead with a prosecution. “The real issue is why there are so few prosecutions so far under the stalkings laws and why it takes so long for the police to secure evidence to prosecute,” he said. There have been just over 2,000 prosecutions since the new law came into effect in 2012. |
| Fletcher said what was needed was proper training for the police and prosecutors and he said the orders might become a substitute for prosecutions. | Fletcher said what was needed was proper training for the police and prosecutors and he said the orders might become a substitute for prosecutions. |