NEWS
Campaigners Welcome Independent Inquiry into Stalking Law Reform
Protection Against Stalking (PAS) and Napo the Probation and Family Court Trade Union welcome and endorse the report of the Independent Inquiry into Stalking Law Reform which was launched today, Tuesday 7th February 2012, in the House of Lords.
PAS and Napo acted as advisors to the inquiry which was established in June 2011 with all Party support. Central to the inquiry was evidence from victims who all felt badly let down by the criminal justice system.
The report has concluded that there is an urgent need for an offence of stalking to be introduced into the law in England and Wales similar to that enacted in Scotland in December 2010. In addition the report calls for fundamental changes to training, the establishment of a Victims’ Advocacy Scheme and for the treatment of offenders.
Figures from Scotland show that during 2011 435 stalking incidents were reported to police and of those 321 progressed to the Procurator Fiscal. Prior to the introduction of stalking laws in Scotland individuals suspected of stalking were charged under Breach of the Peace legislation. In the decade from 2000 just 70 individuals were charged.
Laura Richards of PAS said: “The Independent Parliamentary Inquiry has placed the voices of all those who have been affected by this insidious and life destroying behaviour at the centre of their Inquiry, and for that, we are thankful. Stalking is not a new phenomenon – cases are more common than people think and more dangerous than is currently appreciated - and it is only set to increase, particularly given technological advances. It is time we recognised stalking as a crime, along with ensuring professionals are adequately trained, that specialist advocates are available to support victims and that perpetrators are put before the courts and treated for it. Only when these measures are in place will early identification and intervention occur resulting in lives being saved.”
Harry Fletcher, Assistant General Secretary of Napo, said “Scotland has named stalking as a crime. The figures from 2011 reveal a massive rise in the number of prosecutions. If police, probation and prison officers in England and Wales knew that an individual before them had been convicted of stalking they would take into account that conduct and take measures to prevent the stalking behaviour continuing. The report is very timely and is published as the Home Office consultation concluded on 5 February.”
Independent Parliamentary Inquiry into Stalking Law Reform February 2012
Main Findings and Recommendations
Access the full Parliamentary Inquiry Report here.
Justice at last for Claire as stalker is jailed for 2 years
“You have plagued her life and you have literally ruined it. You have mentally terrorised her over many, many years and her life will never be and can never be the same. Your actions have not just affected her - they have impacted on her family, her children and her friends, so widespread and calculating has your behaviour been”.
Judge Ian Darling
Follow this link to read the full story
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/9045510/Stalker-who-Googled...
Claire Waxman to receive £3,500 in damages after the Crown Prosecution Service dropped a charge against her stalker
Here is a link to the judgement on Claire's case-
http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/62967/stalking-victim-receives-compens...
Twitter
You can now support us by following our updates on Twitter.
Victim's Voice on line survey
Protection Against Stalking are running the Victim's Voice on line survey for victim's of stalking. If you are or have been a victim we want to hear about your experiences of stalking and of the criminal justice system. Please play a part and forward this as appropriate to https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/WK2TGVJ
READ MORE
Home Office Consultation on stalking
The government’s Consultation on Stalking asking for views on how they can protect victims of stalking more effectively closed on 05 February, 2012. The consultation incorporated a number of issues, including current legislation, the effect of police information notices, search powers, the work of existing organisations and alternative measures to tackle stalking.
The consultation sought the views of key partners and directly affected parties, including the police, practitioners, other government departments, organisations with a direct interest in preventing stalking and members of the general public.
We look forward to receiving the findings of this consultation in due course.
Our parliamentary campaign is in the News
Follow the national newspapers for further details of our parliamentary campaign and the new Home Office Consultation on Stalking here:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/stalking--in-person-or-on...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/2011/nov/13/stalking-not-taken-seriously?m...
Diana Lamplugh OBE
We are greatly saddened by the death of Diana Lamplugh OBE, aged 75. After the disappearance of her daughter Suzy in 1986, Diana and her husband, Paul, founded The Suzy Lamplugh Trust, a national charity for personal safety.
Paul Infield, Chairman of the Board of Trustees for The Suzy Lamplugh Trust, said that Diana was one of those people who contributed energy, focus and commitment to everything she did. With her husband, Paul, she was tireless in establishing the concept of and discipline for personal safety, a positive life skill for people of all ages and occupations.
A charismatic speaker and tireless campaigner, Diana led the Trust in successfully campaigning for changes in law and procedures regarding safer working practices; safe travel in minicabs; safer travel on trains and safer stations; safer car parks; the treatment and sentencing of sex offenders; helping vulnerable young people and victims of crime; protection from stalking and harassment, treatment of young offenders and many others.
The Stalking Law Reform Parliamentary Project 2011-2012
Our regular Stalking Law Reform Campaign bulletins are available here. Issue No.11 added on 14th February 2012.
Funding for PAS
We are very grateful to The JRSST Charitable Trust for their generous support for our Independent Parliamentary Inquiry into Stalking Law Reform and our ‘Out of the Shadows’ Road Show awareness programme for 2012.
On line Stalking survey
PAS are running a survey aimed at bringing stalking victims ‘Out of the Shadows’ and find out about their experiences with the Criminal Justice System. All too often we hear from victims who have been let down and rendered vulnerable by the very system that should both support and protect them. Please share your experience with us.Read more here
You can access your personal copy of the PAS ‘Look Forward - Not Behind’ information leaflet
Cyber Stalking
Dr Emma Short from the University of Bedfordshire is presently undertaking research into cyber-stalking, commissioned by Network for Surviving Stalking. More details here.
Officers urged to 'trust stalking victims'
Police officers are urged to 'trust stalking victims' and need to have a better understanding of the risks stalkers can pose to their victims, ACPO's lead for stalking and harassment has urged. For full story click here.
Harriet Cullis - A Memorial
Harriet Cullis was a remarkable woman who played a major part in the creation of PAS in 2008 and was a strong influence over the direction our charity up to her untimely death. We offer our sincere condolences to her family and thank them for contributing so generously towards PAS in her memory.
Stalking Guidelines for Prosecutors
Protection Against Stalking welcomes and supports the launch and publication of The Stalking Guidelines for Prosecutors. (Read more)
The National Stalking Helpline enters its second year
It is now nearly 2 years since The National Stalking Helpline was launched. Operated in collaboration with Protection Against Stalking, The Suzy Lamplugh Trust and Network for Surviving Stalking, the Helpline has received thousands of calls and emails from victims of stalking. Over 70% of callers knew their stalkers from previous intimate relationships, as work colleagues, acquaintances or neighbours. More than 70% of victims were women and nearly half of all victims had not reported their situation to the police. Phone calls, text messages and emails, with ‘following’ and the ‘harassment of friends’ by far the most numerous of incidents of stalking, with home or workplace incidents also rating highly.
Our helpline enables victims and their families to speak in confidence about their experiences and seek professional help. The National Stalking Helpline is open during weekdays between 0930 - 1600hrs except for Wednesday, when it operates between 1300 - 1600hrs.
Call the National Stalking Helpline on 0808 802 0300 or e-mail advice@stalkinghelpline.org
FOR MORE INFORMATION CLICK HERE
