Hope for victims of stalking with new police powers

Police could gain new powers to tackle the "scourge of stalking'' after a draft law cleared its first parliamentary hurdle.

MPs unanimously supported the second reading of the Stalking Protection Bill, which would enable police to issue stalking protection orders.

Labour MP Sarah Champion (Rotherham) said the orders, which give powers to ban strangers from contacting an individual or their families, could be the "difference between life and death''.

Currently if an offender is a victim's partner, or former partner, police can use domestic violence protection orders to try to curb their behaviour.

The new orders would be applicable to all types of stalking, but would address a gap in the law surrounding offences where strangers are involved.

Shadow Home Secretary Diana Abbott highlighted the obsessive nature of Jo Cox's killer, who was the MP for Batley and Spen: "My understanding is that the man who murdered out colleague Jo Cox had a whole room papered with pictures of Jo.

"We need to remember that this type of obsessive attention can end in physical violence".

Tory MP Sarah Wollaston, who proposed the measures in the Government-backed Bill, said: "What these civil protection orders will do will allow us to put in place a bespoke regime of not only prohibitions, but requirements on perpetrators, setting out very clearly what they must not do.

"But also as has been recognised, there is a sense that some perpetrators are not well and so it will allow the court to set a requirement to attend for a mental health assessment.''

Ms Champion, welcoming the Bill, said: "In too many cases there isn't enough evidence for police to make an arrest before it's too late.

"The stalking protection orders put forward in this Bill will be an important early intervention tool available to police officers whilst a criminal investigation is ongoing.

"An early intervention could literally be the difference life and death.''

Yat Wong is from Blacks Solicitors in Leeds and told us it could mean more people feel protected: "There is legislation in place, but I think the feeling is it doesn't go far enough and it doesn't give protection to people who are victims of stalking, which is why this private members bill has been introduced.

"In the current social media climate it's easier to stalk someone without physically having to follow them and spy on them.

"You do hear instances where people have been looking at people's details on Facebook or other social media".

Home Office minister Victoria Atkins said the Bill would provide police with a "vital additional tool with which to protect victims of stalking and deter perpetrators at the earliest opportunity''.

She said: "The order will put the onus on the police not the victims to bring these orders.''

The Bill also received support from Labour and will now progress to the committee stage, where it will receive line by line scrutiny.