A tough new law which will make stalking a specific criminal offence should be on the Statute Book within months.

We have consistently supported such a law. Too often, under present legislation, the police can only act if a stalker resorts to violence.

Under the new law offenders could face up to five years in jail or unlimited fines.

Although a private member's bill banning stalking proposed by Labour MP Janet Anderson earlier this year was rejected as unworkable, it brought the issue to public notice.

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