Victims to get ‘right to know’ the identity of their stalker in Government clampdown
The UK government has unveiled proposed new measures to strengthen protections for stalking victims in England and Wales.
Announced by the Home Office and supported by Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips, the proposals aim to address critical gaps in the current system. A key feature is the introduction of a "right to know" policy, ensuring victims are informed of their stalkers' identities at the earliest opportunity. Phillips added “Currently, victims may unknowingly encounter their stalkers, not realising who they are,” said Phillips, emphasizing the importance of these reforms in enhancing victims' sense of security.
The new guidance draws from the harrowing experience of former Coronation Street actress Nicola Thorp, who endured relentless online abuse from a stalker identifying himself as "The Grim Reaper." Over the course of two years, Nicola was targeted through nearly 30 separate social media accounts, all created by a man she had never met. Despite his arrest, Nicola was initially kept in the dark about his identity and only discovered who he was when he appeared in court. Nicola's ordeal has been instrumental in shaping the government’s proposed reforms, which aim to better protect stalking victims and provide them with crucial information about their abusers.
Other significant measures include expanding the availability of Stalking Protection Orders (SPOs), allowing courts to impose them post-conviction even if not issued prior to trial. Courts will also be empowered to apply protection orders even in cases where the accused is acquitted, provided there is sufficient evidence of risk. Furthermore, offenders will be explicitly prohibited from contacting victims while in prison, a crack in the legal system which currently leaves victims vulnerable to harassment from behind bars.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper described these reforms as part of the government’s broader mission to halve violence against women and girls within a decade, asserting that the measures aim to strip power from abusers and prioritise victim safety.
The proposals include:
- Publishing new data on stalking offences
- A review of stalking legislation to improve police responses and ensure timely arrests.
- Defining stalking in statutory guidance and setting out a legal framework to help support services work together and make sure people are not failed by vital information being missed
- Developing national standards for perpetrator rehabilitation programs to ensure consistency across England and Wales.
The department will also set out national standards on stalking perpetrator programmes to ensure consistency across England and Wales. This initiative follows a critical report by police watchdogs in September, which revealed systemic failures in protecting stalking victims and highlighted the urgent need for reform, noting that victims of stalking are not being protected enough by police force, leaving some at "serious risk".
Emma Lingley-Clark, interim CEO of the Suzy Lamplugh Trust commented that ‘“These measures have the potential to transform how stalking is addressed, ensuring victims feel supported and safe,”
Advocates have welcomed the changes, with London’s independent Victims’ Commissioner Claire Waxman calling them long overdue, noting that the justice system has often left victims exposed to ongoing risk. Charities like Action Against Stalking and the Suzy Lamplugh Trust echoed the sentiment, stressing that while the proposals mark a significant step forward, their success hinges on effective implementation and adequate resourcing.