The Stalking Protection Act 2019 (c. 9) is an Act of Parliament put forward as a private member's bill by then Conservative MP Sarah Wollaston which creates a civil protection order to prevent stalking.[1][2]
Act of Parliament | |
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Long title | An Act to make provision for orders to protect persons from risks associated with stalking; and for connected purposes. |
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Citation | 2019 c. 9 |
Introduced by | Dr. Sarah Wollaston (Commons) Baroness Bertin (Lords) |
Territorial extent | England and Wales |
Dates | |
Royal assent | 15 March 2019 |
Commencement | 20 January 2020 |
Other legislation | |
Relates to | Protection from Harassment Act 1997 Policing and Crime Act 2017 |
Status: Current legislation | |
History of passage through Parliament | |
Text of statute as originally enacted | |
Revised text of statute as amended |
Background
editIn 2012, the Government amended the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 to introduce two new stalking offences, however, there were little protections where the perpetrator is not a partner or ex-partner, with this act aiming to address these concerns.[3]
The Crime Survey for England and Wales reports that more than 1 in 5 women and nearly 1 in 10 men aged 16 to 59 have been victims of stalking since the age of 16. In 2017 to 2018 there were 1,616 prosecutions commenced under stalking offences, with 73% related to domestic abuse.[4]
References
edit- ^ Home Office (2019). Stalking Protection Act 2019: Explanatory Notes (PDF). London. p. 3.
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: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ "Stalking Protection Act 2019". legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
- ^ Stalking Protection Act 2019: Summary, Analysis & Evidence (PDF). Home Office. 2019. p. 2.
- ^ Atkins, Victoria (15 March 2019). "Government backed Stalking Protection Bill receives Royal Assent". GOV.UK. Retrieved 4 May 2020.