Holly Cairns
Question:137. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Justice the steps she is taking to introduce legislation criminalising stalking; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3747/22]
View answerWednesday, 26 January 2022
Questions (137)
Written answers
Before Easter, I will publish a Bill which will include new criminal offences for stalking and for non-fatal strangulation.
The act of stalking itself is already covered by existing law, but I will propose the following changes to make the law clearer and stronger:
- Explicitly reference stalking as a criminal offence
- Make it clear that stalking includes watching or following a victim, even where they are not aware of being watched or followed
- Make it clear that impersonating the victim, and then communicating with a third party, is illegal
- Update the law to ensure that it covers all forms of modern communications.
I will also consider introducing a provision to allow a victim, in very serious cases, apply to the court for an order to prevent the alleged perpetrator from communicating with them in advance of a trial.
In respect of creating a new criminal offence for non-fatal strangulation, while choking and strangling are already illegal, creating this new offence should encourage victims to come forward and report what has happened to them.
It has been shown that this crime can be an indication of future, lethal violence and is a risk factor for homicides against women in the home.