To ask the Attorney-General whether the Crown Prosecution Service maintains a record of the number of cases of (a) harassment or stalking and (b) indecent exposure that have been referred to it by the police for a charging decision in each of the last five years.

[153104]

To ask the Attorney-General whether the Crown Prosecution Service maintains a record of the number of cases of (a) harassment or stalking and (b) indecent exposure that have been referred to it by the police for a charging decision in each of the last five years.

[153104]

To ask the Attorney-General how many prosecutions the Crown Prosecution Service has carried out for harassment and stalking offences in each of the last five years; and what the conviction rates were.

[153108]

To ask the Attorney-General how many prosecutions the Crown Prosecution Service has carried out for harassment and stalking offences in each of the last five years; and what the conviction rates were.

[153108]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to ensure effective implementation of the stalking offences under the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to ensure effective implementation of the stalking offences under the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012.

My Lords, the new stalking offences have been in force for just over three months. On implementation, the Home Office published a circular providing advice on the interpretation of the new offences. Before then, and subsequently, we have worked with the police and the Crown Prosecution Service to update their training and guidance. We continue to engage with partners to ensure that the offences are being used effectively.

My Lords, the new stalking offences have been in force for just over three months. On implementation, the Home Office published a circular providing advice on the interpretation of the new offences. Before then, and subsequently, we have worked with the police and the Crown Prosecution Service to update their training and guidance. We continue to engage with partners to ensure that the offences are being used effectively.

My Lords, 10 months ago, legislation was enacted which, for the first time, made stalking a specific criminal offence. The two new stalking offences have been in force for almost four months and yet we hear from campaigners and victims of stalking that the Government have done next to nothing to ensure that the criminal justice system, police and victim support services are properly trained in the use of these new offences, that the training varies from police force to police force and that many officers are not even aware that the stalking offences exist. Will the Minister tell me what mandatory training the Government have introduced for police officers and criminal justice professionals in relation to the new stalking offences and what input victims and stalking charities have had in its development?

My Lords, 10 months ago, legislation was enacted which, for the first time, made stalking a specific criminal offence. The two new stalking offences have been in force for almost four months and yet we hear from campaigners and victims of stalking that the Government have done next to nothing to ensure that the criminal justice system, police and victim support services are properly trained in the use of these new offences, that the training varies from police force to police force and that many officers are not even aware that the stalking offences exist. Will the Minister tell me what mandatory training the Government have introduced for police officers and criminal justice professionals in relation to the new stalking offences and what input victims and stalking charities have had in its development?

My Lords, I am sorry that the noble Lord clearly was not listening to my initial Answer because, as I have explained, the Government are in continuous engagement with both police forces and the Crown Prosecution Service on the effectiveness of the new offences. On 8 March, we published a new, updated action plan to deliver our strategy to end violence against women and girls. The plan includes specific new actions on stalking, which provide commitments to raise awareness of stalking and to monitor the implementation of these new stalking offences. Data on these new offences will be published in May 2012, which will help inform further action.

My Lords, I am sorry that the noble Lord clearly was not listening to my initial Answer because, as I have explained, the Government are in continuous engagement with both police forces and the Crown Prosecution Service on the effectiveness of the new offences. On 8 March, we published a new, updated action plan to deliver our strategy to end violence against women and girls. The plan includes specific new actions on stalking, which provide commitments to raise awareness of stalking and to monitor the implementation of these new stalking offences. Data on these new offences will be published in May 2012, which will help inform further action.

My Lords, does the Minister agree that there is a serious concern about those stalkers who have continually breached restraining orders—that is, no-contact orders—but have time and time again not received custodial sentences? Many have breached restraining orders on many occasions, but the police and courts have not taken this into account in the suffering of the victims who continue to be stalked between these court appearances. Will the Government ensure that the law changes so that there is an assumption that when restraining orders are repeatedly violated, the sentencing should start with custody?

My Lords, does the Minister agree that there is a serious concern about those stalkers who have continually breached restraining orders—that is, no-contact orders—but have time and time again not received custodial sentences? Many have breached restraining orders on many occasions, but the police and courts have not taken this into account in the suffering of the victims who continue to be stalked between these court appearances. Will the Government ensure that the law changes so that there is an assumption that when restraining orders are repeatedly violated, the sentencing should start with custody?

I do not want to move on to the question of sentencing policy, but I want to emphasise that the Government take the offence of stalking seriously; so does my noble friend, who I know is a member of the Justice Unions’ Parliamentary Group, which published a very helpful report on the subject. I note what she said, but I ask her to remember that the Home Office is in continual dialogue with the Crown Prosecution Service on the way these new offences are being implemented.

I do not want to move on to the question of sentencing policy, but I want to emphasise that the Government take the offence of stalking seriously; so does my noble friend, who I know is a member of the Justice Unions’ Parliamentary Group, which published a very helpful report on the subject. I note what she said, but I ask her to remember that the Home Office is in continual dialogue with the Crown Prosecution Service on the way these new offences are being implemented.

My Lords, the Minister said that a lot of talking was taking place but he did not indicate what action was taking place. Did he answer the question of how many prosecutions there have been to date under this new law regarding stalking offences? If he did not, why not?

My Lords, the Minister said that a lot of talking was taking place but he did not indicate what action was taking place. Did he answer the question of how many prosecutions there have been to date under this new law regarding stalking offences? If he did not, why not?

Those data are not available.

Those data are not available.

Why not?

Why not?

I am sorry, but they are not collected and compiled until some time after the incidents have occurred. As I have said, the data will be available in May 2012—

I am sorry, but they are not collected and compiled until some time after the incidents have occurred. As I have said, the data will be available in May 2012—

2013.

2013.

I am sorry, 2013—as a result of the collation of the data for the first six months of implementation.

I am sorry, 2013—as a result of the collation of the data for the first six months of implementation.

My noble friend has been very informative about what has happened. After all, nothing was done—there is no point in the noble Lord, Lord Foulkes, shaking his head—by the previous Government. Does my noble friend have any idea whether any advice is given to girls, particularly in the last stages of their schooling, about what could happen and what advantages there are in learning how to avoid stalking?

My noble friend has been very informative about what has happened. After all, nothing was done—there is no point in the noble Lord, Lord Foulkes, shaking his head—by the previous Government. Does my noble friend have any idea whether any advice is given to girls, particularly in the last stages of their schooling, about what could happen and what advantages there are in learning how to avoid stalking?

This is part of a fuller education strategy in sexual health and education involving both young men and girls, which I hope is being practised by schools across the country.

This is part of a fuller education strategy in sexual health and education involving both young men and girls, which I hope is being practised by schools across the country.

My Lords, will the Government reassure us that they will be paying particular attention to the use by stalkers of the internet, where

the stalker can reinvent themselves as a victim and cause even greater misery and upset to the entire families of those being persecuted in this way?

My Lords, will the Government reassure us that they will be paying particular attention to the use by stalkers of the internet, where

the stalker can reinvent themselves as a victim and cause even greater misery and upset to the entire families of those being persecuted in this way?

The noble Baroness is also a member of the justice unions group, and I am grateful for the work that that group did. Cyber offences are explicitly included in the new offences and are designed to recognise that stalking can take many different forms. It is a form of harassment that this Government will not tolerate.

The noble Baroness is also a member of the justice unions group, and I am grateful for the work that that group did. Cyber offences are explicitly included in the new offences and are designed to recognise that stalking can take many different forms. It is a form of harassment that this Government will not tolerate.

My Lords, does the Minister agree that emphasis should always be put on the fact that stalking, like domestic violence, has male victims as well as female?

My Lords, does the Minister agree that emphasis should always be put on the fact that stalking, like domestic violence, has male victims as well as female?

Yes. It is quite interesting that in the Crime Survey for England and Wales, 4.2% of females complained of being stalked and 2.7% of men also complained of being victims. It affects people regardless of gender.

Yes. It is quite interesting that in the Crime Survey for England and Wales, 4.2% of females complained of being stalked and 2.7% of men also complained of being victims. It affects people regardless of gender.