Stalking to be made specific criminal offence - Cameron

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17294314

Stalking is to be made a specific criminal offence in England and Wales, Prime Minister David Cameron has said.
He will meet stalking victims later at Number 10 in a reception to mark International Women's Day on Thursday.

I had thought it was already a crime?

[Osem]

I believe it currently only becomes a crime when another offence is committed at the same time e.g. threatening behaviour, assault etc. A stranger bringing you flowers every day and waiting outside your house would be considered stalking but only a crime if something else they did was an offence e.g. if they ignored a court order you'd obtained to prevent them bothering you.

[Gary L]

It would come under harrassment.

I wonder if it will include internet forums and such

Originally Posted by Maggy J

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17294314


I had thought it was already a crime?

no not yet

Sadly though some of the tabloids have decided to trivialise the measures by concentrating on "Wolf whistling" in their headlines

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/20...iminal-offence

[Gary L]

I suppose really if you look at it in that a criminal offence means a punishment of having to pay a fine. then you could see it as you can do what you want as long as you're prepared to keep paying the fees. and the more offences there are that incur a fine are made, the more money they make.

Originally Posted by martyh

no not yet

Sadly though some of the tabloids have decided to trivialise the measures by concentrating on "Wolf whistling" in their headlines

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/20...iminal-offence

That story suggests that these are two separate measures rather than trivialising stalking by referring to wolf whistling.

Salacious whistles and sexist comments may fall foul of new laws against sexual harassment to which Britain is signing up, the prime minister will announce on Thursday...

....In a separate move, Cameron is expected to back government support for new laws to criminalise stalking, with jail terms of up to five years and unlimited fines.

Originally Posted by Damien

That story suggests that these are two separate measures rather than trivialising stalking by referring to wolf whistling.

Quite right they are two separate measures, so why the guardian decided to put something as trivial as wolf whistling in the headline when the actual meat or the story is a far more serious issue and something long overdue

[Gary L]

Originally Posted by heero_yuy

It will be interesting to see how the legislation is worded as TVL with their stupid threaten-o-grams every month or so could also fall foul of this.

Good point. I hate that organisation. it's nothing more than organised crime what they do

Originally Posted by martyh

Quite right they are two separate measures, so why the guardian decided to put something as trivial as wolf whistling in the headline when the actual meat or the story is a far more serious issue and something long overdue

Because to have laws which criminalise remarks judged to be sexist and/or wolf whistling is not 'trivial', it's a move which poses further questions and a law which could be horribly illiberal and dangerous. It's also a newer development than the laws on stalking which have been in the motions for some time.

The Guardian is a liberal paper. It's also one which has been running many articles on female inequality in the run up to day, International Woman's Day, so I don't think they are seeking to minimise the issue of stalking as their editorial position is rather pro-feminist.

Originally Posted by Damien

Because to have laws which criminalise remarks judged to be sexist and/or wolf whistling is not 'trivial', it's a move which poses further questions and a law which could be horribly illiberal and dangerous. It's also a newer development than the laws on stalking which have been in the motions for some time.

The Guardian is a liberal paper. It's also one which has been running many articles on female inequality in the run up to day, International Woman's Day, so I don't think they are seeking to minimise the issue of stalking as their editorial position is rather pro-feminist.

I agree with that,i just feel the headline could have been a bit better worded .
You are correct in that if the laws aren't thought through properly then it will be open season for feminists out there,and lets not forget that these new proposals should apply to men just as much as women because there are some pretty nasty women out there

[Derek]

Oh god. I thought the last lot were bad for announcing new, badly thought out, laws on a whim to capture some headlines when the laws already on the statute books work fine.

All this will do reinforce the 'he sent me a message on Facebook, I want him charged' mob who get an unfair percentage of Police time already and ignore the decent people who are actually being stalked.

[Mr_love_monkey]

Originally Posted by Maggy J

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17294314


I had thought it was already a crime?

Damn - there goes my weekend hobby.

[devilincarnate]

Originally Posted by Mr_love_monkey

Damn - there goes my weekend hobby.

You beat me to it

Originally Posted by Derek

Oh god. I thought the last lot were bad for announcing new, badly thought out, laws on a whim to capture some headlines when the laws already on the statute books work fine.

All this will do reinforce the 'he sent me a message on Facebook, I want him charged' mob who get an unfair percentage of Police time already and ignore the decent people who are actually being stalked.

I could have sworn that stalking had been dealt with by some slight modification of present law.