§ Ms Janet AndersonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which other countries' anti-stalking laws his Department has assessed in drawing up anti-stalking legislation; and if he will make a statement. [7794]
§ Mr. MacleanMy officials examined the approaches to stalking adopted in the United States of America, Canada and Australia. These generally only criminalise acts which are already offences in the United Kingdom, and we therefore concluded that the United Kingdom would have to develop a new approach. Our proposals are contained in the Protection from Harassment Bill, introduced on 5 December.