1-10 of 100 results for subject:Stalking
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To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans her Department has to introduce measures to track, manage and routinely supervise perpetrators of domestic violence and serial stalkers in a similar way to sex offenders.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans her Department has to introduce measures to track, manage and routinely supervise perpetrators of domestic violence and serial stalkers in a similar way to sex offenders.
Convicted stalkers and perpetrators of domestic violence are already captured on the Police National Computer. We are working to make better use of existing databases and improve connectivity and information sharing rather than
creating new databases or registers for each offence. Since April 2014, offences of stalking and harassment are being reported separately in Police Recorded Crime figures. This will allow us to develop a more comprehensive
picture of the scale of stalking and monitor cases more effectively.
We introduced two new offences on 25 November 2012 to strengthen legislation around stalking and extended police search powers to improve investigation of these crimes.
In addition, the Home Secretary has established a National Oversight Group to ensure recommendations from HMIC’s Review into domestic abuse are acted upon. This includes work to improve data collection and data sharing on serial
abusers.
We have no current plans to legislate on this issue. However, the Home Office consultation on strengthening the law on domestic abuse closed on 15 October. We are currently assessing the responses and we will consider all of the issues
raised in order to determine next steps to offer the best possible protection for victims.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many complaints of stalking were recorded by the police in England and Wales in each of the last three years.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many complaints of stalking were recorded by the police in England and Wales in each of the last three years.
The Home Office collects data on the number of crimes recorded by the police but not how many complaints the police receive.
Prior to 1 April 2014, offences relating to stalking recorded by the police were included in the offence classification of harassment and could not be identified separately. From the 1 April 2014 these offences have been supplied
to the Home Office as a separate classification of stalking. Therefore data are only available for the months April to June 2014, when the police recorded 695 offences. They are published in the quarterly Office for National Statistics publication of ‘Crime in England and Wales’.
The most recent data are available in table A4 in this link: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/crime-stats/crime-statistics/period-ending-june-2014/index.html
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to reduce cyber stalking.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to reduce cyber stalking.
The law is clear that what is illegal off-line is also illegal on-line and we have robust legislation in place to deal with internet trolls, cyber stalking
and harassment. The government brought in new stalking laws in November 2012 which sends a clear message that those responsible for stalking should be brought to justice. This will also help stop people living in fear and prevent escalation to more serious violence. From April 2013 to March 2014, 743 prosecutions were commenced under the new stalking legislation. This is a significant increase from the 67 prosecutions that were commenced from November 2012 to March 2013 and shows that the legislation is taking effect.
The government continues to work in collaboration with the College of Policing, the National Policing Lead on Stalking, and the Crown Prosecution Service, amongst others, to further raise awareness of the legislation and promote training to ensure these offences are tackled effectively. In July 2013 the Crown Prosecution Service published guidelines for prosecutors on the approach they should take in cases involving communications sent via social media. The College of Policing also wrote to all Chief Officers in July 2013 with advice on tackling online abuse.
What assessment he has made of trends in the level of convictions for stalking offences.
What assessment he has made of trends in the level of convictions for stalking offences.
The relevant offences under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 were amended by new sections 2A and 4A, which came into force on 25 November 2012. Sadly, it is too early for there to be meaningful trends. As soon as the trends are indicated to us, we will present that information to the House.
The relevant offences under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 were amended by new sections 2A and 4A, which came into force on 25 November 2012. Sadly, it is too early for there to be meaningful trends. As soon as the trends are indicated to us, we will present that information to the House.
The relevant offences under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 were amended by new sections 2A and 4A, which came into force on 25 November 2012. Sadly, it is too early for there to be meaningful trends. As soon as the trends are indicated to us, we will present that information to the House.
What assessment he has made of trends in the level of convictions for stalking offences.
I thank the Minister for that reply. My constituent, John Clough, has sponsored a petition, which so far has attracted more than 120,000 signatures, calling on the Home Office to establish a stalkers register. How can my right hon. Friend ensure that more stalkers are convicted and their victims protected?
I thank the Minister for that reply. My constituent, John Clough, has sponsored a petition, which so far has attracted more than 120,000 signatures, calling on the Home Office to establish a stalkers register. How can my right hon. Friend ensure that more stalkers are convicted and their victims protected?
Being stalked must be an horrendous experience for anybody, and it is important that we look carefully at the legislation and keep the issue under review. In 2013-14, 743 prosecutions were commenced under the new legislation. We agree across the House that stalking is an abhorrent offence, and we should do everything we can to prevent it and prosecute those who perpetrate it.
Being stalked must be an horrendous experience for anybody, and it is important that we look carefully at the legislation and keep the issue under review. In 2013-14, 743 prosecutions were commenced under the new legislation. We agree across the House that stalking is an abhorrent offence, and we should do everything we can to prevent it and prosecute those who perpetrate it.
Being stalked must be an horrendous experience for anybody, and it is important that we look carefully at the legislation and keep the issue under review. In 2013-14, 743 prosecutions were commenced under the new legislation. We agree across the House that stalking is an abhorrent offence, and we should do everything we can to prevent it and prosecute those who perpetrate it.
I thank the Minister for that reply. My constituent, John Clough, has sponsored a petition, which so far has attracted more than 120,000 signatures, calling on the Home Office to establish a stalkers register. How can my right hon. Friend ensure that more stalkers are convicted and their victims protected?
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will bring forward proposals to expand the scope of the sex offenders' register to include serial stalkers and domestic violence perpetrators.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will bring forward proposals to expand the scope of the sex offenders' register to include serial stalkers and domestic violence perpetrators.
The list of qualifying offences for the sex offender notification requirements is kept under review by the Home Office. Convicted stalkers are already captured on the Police National Computer.
In addition, the Home Secretary has established a National Oversight Group to ensure that the recommendations from HMIC’s March Review into domestic abuse are acted upon. This includes work to improve data collection and data sharing on serial abusers.
The Home Office consultation on strengthening the law on domestic abuse closed on 15 October. We are currently considering the responses and we will consider all of the issues raised in order to determine next steps to offer the best possible protection for victims.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what further training is planned for (a) the probation service, (b) magistrates and (c) judges on the new stalking laws.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what further training is planned for (a) the probation service, (b) magistrates and (c) judges on the new stalking laws.
(a) The National Probation Service is a new organisation that has only been in existence since June 2014. The Professional Skills Training team are in the process of putting together the national training plan and stalking awareness will be part of this.
(b) & (c) The responsibility for judicial training for courts judiciary lies with the Lord Chief Justice as head of the judiciary and is exercised through the Judicial College. Magistrates sit with legal advisers in court who advise them on the law.
The new stalking laws came from the amendments made to the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 by the Protection of Freedom Act 2012. The Judicial College provides regular updates to judges and legal advisers on any changes to the law via a jurisdictional electronic internal newsletter, and did so in respect of these provisions in June 2012.
The Home Office also issued a circular [Ref: 018/2012] on the new provisions in October 2012. This was issued to the Association Of Chief Police Officers (in England And Wales And Northern Ireland), Association Of Magisterial Officers, Central Council Of Magistrates Courts, Justices Clerks Society, Law Society, Magistrates Association, Ministry of Justice, and the Judicial College.
In addition the Justices Clerks Society also issued a circular to their members outlining the new provisions in December 2012.
The Judicial College regularly assesses judicial training needs and how to meet them. Ultimately, judges use the law to make independent decisions based on the evidence and information provided to them in court.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people have been convicted under the provisions of section 4a of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997; and how many such people received a custodial sentence.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people have been convicted under the provisions of section 4a of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997; and how many such people received a custodial sentence.
The stalking offences under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, sections 2A (stalking) and 4A (stalking involving fear of violence or serious alarm or distress), have been available from 25 November 2012. The section 2A offence has a maximum penalty of six months’ imprisonment and/or a fine, and the section 4A offence has a maximum penalty of 5 years’ imprisonment.
The number of people convicted under sections 2A and 4A in 2012 and 2013 and those receiving custodial sentence can be viewed at the table below.
Defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty and sentenced to immediate custody at all courts of offences under Sections 2A and 4A of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, England and Wales, 2012 to 20131,2,3 | |||
Section of Act | Outcome | 2012 | 2013 |
Section 2A4 | Proceeded against | 8 | 293 |
| Found guilty | 2 | 196 |
| Sentenced | 2 | 192 |
| Of which: |
|
|
| Immediate custody | 0 | 35 |
| Of which: |
|
|
| up to 12 months | 0 | 35 |
| 12 to 24 months | 0 | 0 |
| over 24 months | 0 | 0 |
|
|
|
|
Section 4A5 | Proceeded against | 0 | 154 |
| Found guilty | 0 | 53 |
| Sentenced | 0 | 42 |
| Of which: |
|
|
| Immediate custody | 0 | 14 |
| Of which: |
|
|
| up to 12 months | 0 | 10 |
| 12 to 24 months | 0 | 4 |
| over 24 months | 0 | 0 |
1 The figures given in the table relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. 2 Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. 3 The number of offenders sentenced can differ from those found guilty as it may be the case that a defendant found guilty in a particular year, and committed for sentence at the Crown Court, may be sentenced in the following year. 4 Pursue course of conduct in breach of S.1(1) of the Act which amounts to stalking. 5 Stalking involving fear of violence or serious alarm and distress. Note: Offences introduced 25 November 2012. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services—Ministry of Justice | |||