WHEN legislation creating a new offence of stalking took effect last year, it was recognition of the devastating impact of the crime on victims and the need to greater empower the justice system to respond.
Described as a pattern of behaviours that is fixated, obsessive, unwanted and repeated, stalking can take many forms and destroy lives with its pernicious effects.
Since April 2022, police have been able to arrest more than 200 alleged stalkers and more than 100 people have faced charges.
Now new Stalking Protection Orders (SPOs) will equip officers with an important added weapon in the fight to stamp out this sinister crime.
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Crucially, the orders will allow early intervention to stop stalking behaviour in its tracks, prior to a conviction.
Police, rather than victims, can ask the court to grant an order if it appears a person has carried out acts associated with stalking or there is reason to believe measures are required to prevent harm.
Those subject to an order can be prohibited from contacting their victim, whether through social media or other forms of messaging, calls or face-to-face contact.
Orders can also stop material being published, or ban stalkers from entering certain areas.
While some may still think of stalking as physically following or spying on a person, one victim today described the terrifying impact of being bombarded with messages and calls, with their stalker even able to manipulate a speaker system in their home to turn on music during the night.
SPOs will last for a minimum of two years and a breach would be a criminal offence carrying a maximum of five years in prison.
Police have said they have 5,000 officers and staff trained to recognise and respond to concerns about stalking and the orders allow them to take swift and decisive action.
It will be vital that efforts continue to raise awareness of the new law and ensure victims have the confidence to come forward to stop offenders.
The Protection from Stalking Act, which brought Northern Ireland in line with other regions of the UK, was one of the last pieces of legislation passed by the assembly before its collapse last year.
It is a reminder of the difference politics can make people's lives and further evidence that the DUP must move now to end its hugely damaging boycott of the devolved institutions.
