PAS (Protection against stalking)

• In 2011 PAS (protection against stalking) launched a campaign to introduce a new law making stalking a specific offence

  The existing law - 1997 anti-harassment law did not refer specifically to stalking
• In some cases stalking can lead to physical attacks and death - Claire Bernal was shot dead by her stalker in 2005 while she was at work in a London department store
• The police lacked a clear policy and investigations were often left to individual officers discretion
• PAS concluded that the existing law was not fit for purpose, supported by Napo, the probation officer’ union, PAS set up an independent parliamentary inquiry, persuading MP’s and peers from all parties to serve on it 
• The inquiry lasted for several months, hearing evidence from victims and their relatives, academic experts, lawyers, police and probation officers.
• The inquiry report was published in February 2012 with the support of 60 MP’s and peers. PAS were able to get the support from MPs to include an amendment to a bill that was going through parliament
• Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 - Made stalking a criminal offence
• Reasons for success:

  • Inquiry made it so that victims could be heard
  • Gained support from a wide range of important organisations and groups
  • Kept the campaign in the public eye through the press
  • Lobbied individual MP’s and peers who could change the law
  • Gained support from all political parties