Judge hands out first 'Stalking Prevention Order' just hours after police given new powers to protect victims

The new orders were introduced at midnight
Luis Villasmil/Unsplash
Tim Baker20 January 2020
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The first Stalking Protection order was handed down by a judge just 11 hours after the new measure was introduced.

Sussex Police was the first force to use the new powers, which became available to officers at midnight on Monday.

Stalking Protection Orders allow courts in the UK and Wales to stop suspects from contacting victims and lasts indefinitely. They can also force suspects to seek professional help.

A 22-year-old man was given the first SPO at Brighton Magistrates Court just after 11am on Monday.

The order was handed down at Brighton Magistrates Court (file photo)
Lewis Whyld/PA Archive

The man was accused of stalking a woman in her early 20s online.

He did not contest the SPO, which he was given, even though he has not been charged as the investigation continues.

The reported victim lived elsewhere in the country.

The details of the SPO state it “prohibits him from; contacting the woman directly or indirectly, by whatever means; sharing or posting any photograph of her on the internet, social media or in any public place; sharing or posting any photograph of her to any other individual.”

Detective Chief Inspector David Springett of the force's Public Protection Command, said: "This new resource will really help us to protect victims.

"The new Orders, which we will seek from Magistrates, are an important development in helping us to better protect victims or anyone connected with them, in stalking cases.

"Subjects can be made to undertake offender rehabilitation courses or mental health assessments. They can also be required to stay away from specific areas and from contact with named people."

Campaigners and victims welcomed the news, but warned orders would only be effective if action was taken quickly and many still did not understand the dangers of stalking.

Clive Ruggles, of the Alice Ruggles Trust, described the orders as a “powerful new tool”, but said it was “critical” there was no delay in arresting perpetrators who breach them.

He added: “Any other response may well escalate the risk to the victim.”

Professor Jane Monckton-Smith, who specialises in researching homicide, stalking and coercive control at the University of Gloucestershire, said: “I think the orders could be really useful if they are used correctly”.

She added that the courts need to take the measures seriously as, “stalkers by their nature are obsessive and will keep going and going until they are stopped.”

Detective Chief Inspector Springett said: “We are absolutely aware of the consequences if our response is not the correct one, so we want to ensure that victims have confidence in how both police and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) will support them.”

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