London (Parliament Politics Magazine) – The UK government is introducing new measures to inform stalking victims of their perpetrator’s identity and strengthening stalking protection orders.
Under new government measures, the process for stalking victims to learn their perpetrator’s identity will be sped up.
New policies will make it easier for victims to obtain Stalking Protection Orders, imposing stricter restraining orders on perpetrators.
Jess Phillips, the UK safeguarding minister, announces new rights for stalking victims to know their perpetrator’s identity as part of a broader legislative review.
The Home Office’s new guidance directs police in England and Wales to notify victims if they identify a stalker, including those using anonymous online profiles.
Yvette Cooper, Home Secretary, will introduce “Right to Know” guidance, allowing police to reveal an online stalker’s identity as soon as possible.
A September report by policing watchdogs revealed that inconsistent enforcement of stalking laws is failing many victims.
As reported by the Guardian, official statistics reveal one in seven people over 16 in England and Wales have been stalked, with women and younger individuals at risk.
Nicola Thorp, former Coronation Street actress and broadcaster, was abused online by a man who created more than 30 social media accounts to send her violent misogynistic messages, which has driven the change.
The police stated they could not disclose his identity even after his arrest, despite his claim that he got so close to Ms Thorp on a train he ‘could smell’ her.
The accused man, who called himself “The Grim Reaper” in his messages, is currently serving a 30-month prison sentence and a lifetime restraining order. This is the moment when Ms. Thorp is finally told his real identity.
The current system allows enforcement of the orders only after an offender is convicted, and the order must be in place before the trial.
Under the new proposed measures, courts can now issue protection orders after conviction, even when no order was in place before the trial and can impose orders on acquitted individuals if there is enough evidence that they pose a risk.
The orders can stop perpetrators from contacting their victims or entering specific areas and mandate their participation in programs designed to address their behaviour.
Yvette Cooper, UK Home Secretary said, “Stalking is a horrendous crime. For far too long, victims of stalking have been subject to debilitating and vicious abuse at the hands of stalkers who use any means necessary to monitor and control their victims’ lives.”
She added, “Let us be clear – we will use every tool available to us to give more power to victims and take it away from the hands of their abusers.”
Ms Nicola Thorp said in response to these new measures, “I’m delighted with the new measures announced by the Home Office. For too long, stalking victims have been at the mercy not only of their stalker, but a justice system that failed to protect them. These new measures will empower victims to regain some much-needed control of their lives and police to bring abusers to justice.”
The Independent reported Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, Jess Phillips stated, “As a victim of stalking myself, I know just how terrifying it can be to be subject to such controlling behaviour.”
She added, “Today we are announcing six fresh measures which will help people go about their lives with the confidence that the person stalking them is being dealt with robustly and that more protections are in place to help them.”
London’s Independent Victims Commissioner, Claire Waxman OBE, said, “Too often, I hear from victims facing relentless, terrifying behaviour from stalkers – only for the police or Crown Prosecution Service to downgrade it to a lesser offence, such as malicious communications or harassment.”