Women’s Aid Leicestershire Ltd (WALL) welcomes the result of the hearing at the Magistrates Court yesterday afternoon, which issued a Stalking Protection Order (SPO) to a dangerous stalker living in Leicester.
SPOs are a welcome additional tool which complement the existing legislation and enable early and robust intervention to be taken by the Police, rather than the emphasis being placed on the victims to apply for the protective orders.
Rather than just imposing prohibitive conditions, like other protective orders, an SPO can include positive requirements, for example, allowing Police access to social media accounts, electronic devices, passwords and codes, internet history, and vehicle details, as well as the surrendering of such equipment for further investigation if requested.
WALL has been working with the victim for many months and commends her bravery in seeking support and justice against her serial stalker. Following a relationship characterised by coercive control and abusive behaviours, the perpetrator turned to stalking type conduct, both in person and online, when the relationship ended, leaving the victim and her family living in fear.
Chief Executive of Women’s Aid Leicestershire Ltd, Pamela Richardson, said:
“If you are experiencing persistent and unwanted attention, and the behaviour is making you feel fearful, harassed, or anxious, then you are a victim of stalking. This is not something anyone should have to live with. Women’s Aid Leicestershire is here to help you and we will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that victims get the justice they deserve”.
Yesterday’s result is an acknowledgement of the suffering and distress that victims of stalking can face and it provides the victim much needed protection to allow her the chance to rebuild her life and live safely and securely. It also demonstrates how effective collaborative working between statutory agencies in the field of stalking can result in an effective and successful outcome.
WALL continue to work in partnership with Leicestershire Police and other local organisations to push for greater awareness of the adverse effects of stalking and, as in this case, to secure an appropriate order and a positive outcome for the victim through the justice system. This decision will hopefully bring much needed relief to the victim and encourage others who are experiencing stalking to seek support from dedicated stalking services and the Police.