Stalking is a criminal offence
Stalking was made a criminal offence in 2012 through amendments made to the Protection from Harassment Act. While there is no single legal definition of stalking, the law provides examples of stalking behaviour, eg:
· Following, watching or spying on a person
· Forcing contact with a person
· Monitoring a person’s use of the internet
· Loitering in a place
· Interfering with any property in possession of a person
The effect of such behaviour is to curtail someone’s freedom, leaving them feeling that they constantly have to be careful. Even if the conduct itself appears innocent, (if taken in isolation), it amounts to stalking if carried out repeatedly, causing significant alarm, harassment or distress.
The Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 created two new offences of stalking by inserting new sections into the previous Protection from Harassment Act 1997. The offences cover stalking that involves fear of violence, or stalking that causes serious alarm or distress to the victim(s).