Stalking is to become a crime for the first time, with offenders facing jail for up to five years and unlimited fines.
After decades of debate, David Cameron will announce today [Thursday] that the Government is to change the law to protect tens of thousands of victims let down by the system.
Currently, police must wait until suspects commit another crime – such as harassment or breaching a restraining order – before they act.
As a result, only 2 per cent of stalkers are jailed, with the maximum sentence being six months if pursued under the Protection from Harassment Act.
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Now England and Wales is to follow the example of Scotland, where a specific offence of stalking was created in December 2010 punishable by up to five years in jail. More than 400 people were prosecuted in the first year.
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