§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on(a) the effectiveness of current legislation and injunctions to combat stalking and (b) his plans for legislation to combat stalking. [20026]
§ Mr. MacleanThe existing criminal law can be used to deal with a number of aspects of stalking behaviour. It is an offence to use threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour under the Public Order Act 1986; to make an indecent, obscene or menacing telephone call under the Telecommunications Act 1984; and to send an indecent, offensive and threatening letter under the Malicious Communications Act 1988. As a recent successful prosecution has shown, more serious acts by stalkers, such as causing grievous bodily harm, are caught by the criminal law.
Under civil law, a plaintiff may claim an injunction where he or she can demonstrate an actionable tort and once this is established the courts have a wide discretion to grant injunctions to meet the circumstances of a case.
Notwithstanding these powers, the Government are considering whether there is a need for wider measures specifically to combat the conduct of stalkers.
542WIn addition to the memorandum, training for interviewing was provided by courses under the auspices of the Metropolitan police training centre and supplemented by an Open university training pack. Police officers and social workers now receive joint training known as the CAMAT—child abuse management and training course. Advice on interviewing child witnesses and victims is also included in the national investigative interviewing course which is available to all police officers and is now incorporated in mainstream police training.
We have commissioned further research to identify and promote best local practices for training child abuse investigators.