Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Stalking Advocates

31 January 2022 · 3 other contributors · 11,981 words

Opened by Tonia Antoniazzi Lab Gower

Responding minister: Rachel Maclean

Crime & Law EnforcementJustice & Courts

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Tonia Antoniazzi raised concerns about stalking advocates in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • Concerns raised about the inadequacy of current legal frameworks and police responses to stalking, highlighting specific cases of women facing dismissal or inadequate protection.
  • The MP calls for more funding for stalking advocates within each police force to assist victims and enhance investigations.
  • The MP requests information on the effectiveness and usage of stalking prevention orders across different police forces.

Key requests to Government

I urge the government to address the systemic issues that prevent effective support for stalking victims, including the lack of police training and funding for specialist services. The MP asks the government to provide more funding for stalking advocates within each police force to help victims and improve investigations. She seeks information on the number of stalking prevention orders issued since their introduction, the effectiveness of these orders across various police forces, and an audit of other offences recorded against perpetrators later convicted of stalking.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Tonia Antoniazzi Lab Gower

I am concerned about the ongoing impact of stalking on individuals and communities, particularly in light of the recent death of Gracie Spinks. There is a need for greater recognition of the dangers posed by stalkers and the inadequacies of current legal frameworks to protect victims. The MP is concerned about the inadequacy of police responses to stalking reports, citing specific cases where women faced dismissal or inadequate protection. She mentions the tragic case of Gracie Spinks and highlights issues such as trivializing the crime of stalking, the misuse of social media for harassment, and the potential dangers posed by tracking devices like AirTags. The MP also notes discrepancies in the use of stalking prevention orders across different police forces.

Other contributors (3)
  • Jess Phillips Lab Birmingham Yardley

    Discussed the importance of recognising stalking as a precursor to serious crimes such as murder. Highlighted cases where victims reported their stalkers to police but were killed regardless. Emphasised the need for proactive risk assessment and management by police forces, citing examples like Hollie Gazzard's murderer Asher Maslin and Yasmin Chkaifi's killer Leon McCaskre. She inquired if the Minister expects an increase from the current 2% of stalking arrests being responded to with stalking protection orders, and asked if there is a target for police forces.

  • Mark Fletcher Con Bolsover

    Victim support is important, and fostering an open culture around stalking is a challenge in areas with lower education levels. The speaker thanked Jackie Barnett-Wheatcroft for setting up the petition that garnered nearly 6,000 signatures from his constituency. He also mentioned the need to address cultural issues related to masculinity and malehood. He suggested that the Minister write to the Deputy Prime Minister regarding today's debate and recommendations made by Members of Parliament.

  • Toby Perkins Lab Chesterfield

    Paid tribute to the family of Gracie Spinks, criticised inadequate support for victims of stalking, highlighted issues with police investigations and court delays, called for better funding and training within police forces. Agrees with a previous speaker, noting the Government's response to a petition about stalking includes new advice products from the College of Policing. However, he stresses that these need to be compulsory and enforced as a priority by police leadership. He questioned whether the single point of contact would be for victims or managing cases, and inquired about the seniority level of the officer involved. Additionally, he asked if Gracie's law petition should be applied to the Victims Bill or the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill.

Government Response

Rachel Maclean

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Mark. I congratulate the hon. Member for Gower (Tonia Antoniazzi) on securing this debate and doing justice to this vital subject. The Government launched a fund for police and crime commissioners to run programmes addressing domestic abuse and stalking perpetrators, with an aim to improve understanding of what works in tackling stalking. Stalking protection orders were introduced two years ago to protect victims at the earliest opportunity and help address perpetrator behaviour before escalation. Since 2017, forces have identified improvements and published a national stalking and harassment improvement plan requiring every force to have a single point of contact for stalking concerns. The Home Office has tripled funding to Suzy Lamplugh Trust's national stalking helpline and provided £150 million for victim and witness support services, including ISACs trained by Paladin. A consultation on the victims Bill remains open until this Thursday, focusing primarily on domestic abuse and sexual violence advocates but also relevant to other advocacy roles like ISACs. The Government will publish a domestic abuse strategy seeking to prevent offending, support victims and pursue perpetrators with a specific section on stalking risks. A national education campaign about violence against women and girls is being prepared to change the misogynistic culture that supports such behaviours.

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