Protection from Harassment Act 1997: The 'New' Stalking Offences

摘要

Any legislative change that puts stalking on the map is to be welcomed, not least for raising public awareness of this most distressing offence. But one has to question whether the same aims could have more easily been achieved. The fact that the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 has been amended, rather than creating a brand new piece of 'stalking' legislation, speaks volumes. Stalking is clearly a form of harassment and it is quite rightly incorporated within the existing Act.