Member

Amendment 330AB would introduce a statutory requirement for the chief officer of police to consult the victim of the offence when an application is made by the police or the defendant. It is important to note that a court may already make a stalking protection order if satisfied that the individual has carried out acts associated with stalking, they pose a risk associated with stalking another person and the order is necessary to protect another person from such risk. It is not necessary to prove that an offence has been committed. The amendment as drafted would not cover cases where there has not been an offence, and we believe that statutory guidance for the police is best placed to address this issue. I am grateful to the noble Baroness for raising it, but I hope she can reflect on what I have said.