What are the proposed new stalking laws in England and Wales and how will protection orders help victims of harassment?
Home Secretary Amber Rudd said the protection orders being proposed are a "practical solution to a crime taking place right now"
PLANS to get tougher on stalking, revenge porn and domestic violence have been unveiled.
New laws were announced in December last year to better protect victims at the earliest possible stage and now the guidelines have been published.
Home Secretary Amber Rudd said the protection orders proposed are a "practical solution to a crime taking place right now".
The orders will help those targeted by strangers and give them similar protection to domestic abuse victims.
What are the proposed new stalking laws?
Police will be able to apply to the courts for an order before a stalking suspect has even been arrested or convicted.
The orders will provide the same protection as that offered to victims of domestic abuse and will be available whether or not there are ongoing criminal proceedings.
If a prosecution is going ahead, the order can protect victims while evidence is being collected.
The orders follow legislation introduced in 2012 which made stalking a specific criminal offence in England and Wales.
Stalking in numbers
One in five women and one in ten men will be victims of stalking in their lifetime.
The National Stalking Helpline has responded to almost 14,000 calls since it was established in 2010, with over 3,550 so far in 2016
There have been over 2,000 prosecutions under the new stalking offences since they came into effect on 25 November 2012
There were a record 12,986 CPS prosecutions for stalking and harassment in 2014 and 15 - the highest volume ever recorded
In the year to June 2016, the police recorded 4,168 stalking offences - a rise of 32 per cent since the previous year
According to the Crime Survey for England and Wales 4.6 per cent of women and 2.7 per cent of men aged 16 to 59 were victims in 2015 and 16 alone
In Scotland, stalking is illegal under the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 and in Northern Ireland it is prohibited under the Protection from Harassment Order (NI) 1997.
The government has said it will seek to legislate to introduce the orders as soon as parliamentary time allows.
The laws will also see courts reassess the punishments handed to people convicted of revenge porn and domestic violence crimes, it was revealed on March 29.
Sentencing Council member Mrs Justice McGowan said: “These offences can be particularly sensitive and distressing, leading to very significant harm to victims.
“The new guidelines we are proposing will help ensure sentences reflect the seriousness of these offences and take into account the increases in sentence levels for stalking and harassment introduced by Parliament.”
What happens if the new stalking laws are committed?
Breaching an order's conditions will be a criminal offence with a maximum sentence of five years in jail.
They might also be ordered to attend a rehabilitation programme, or undergo treatment if they have a mental health problem.
The requirements of the order would vary depending on the case, but it is likely the suspect will be banned from going near the victim and contacting them online.
Who will the stalking orders protect?
The new laws will offer protection to those not in an intimate relationship with their stalker.
This means anyone targeted by strangers, acquaintances or colleagues will be helped.
They will also apply to by patients.
The announcement is part of a set of measure to prevent violence against women and girls (VAWG).
The National Stalking Helpline has already dealt with more than 3,550 calls this year.
A new £15 million fund will boost local provision of VAWG services and will be open to Police and Crime Commissioners, local authorities and health commissioners to support community-based services and promote best practice.
