Stalking protection orders could be introduced to protect victims of “stranger stalking”.
The Home Office launched a consultation last week, Introducing a Stalking Protection Order, on whether placing restrictions on perpetrators in the form of the orders would help protect victims. It cited evidence suggesting that “stranger stalking” could be increasing, perhaps because of the rise of social media. Home Secretary Theresa May said about half of stalking cases take place where only a very casual acquaintanceship exists between perpetrator and victim.
May said: “I am concerned that there may still be a gap between the time when the offending behaviour begins and the time when a prosecution can be commenced where we could be doing more to deter the perpetrator from their obsession. The actions of a stalker can seem innocuous on the surface and there is a risk that the developing fixation, which may differentiate the stalker from the harasser, could be missed and therefore not addressed in the early stages.”
Two new stalking offences were introduced in 2012 by the Home Office through the Protection from Harassment Act 1997. Since then, training has been provided to police and prosecutors, and prosecutions under the new offences have begun to increase.
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