Mims Davies, MP for Eastleigh, has offered her support to a Bill that seeks to protect members of the public from the risks associated with stalking.
The new order will be available on application from the police to the courts, ensuring that the onus to take action is not on the victim, and is available in cases of so called ‘stranger stalking’, correcting the problem of existing protective orders.
Mims said,
‘The 2016 Crime Survey for England and Wales showed that around 1 in 5 women and 1 in 10 men had experienced stalking since the age of 16, which is absolutely shocking.’
‘A number of constituents have been in touch about their direct and indirect experiences of stalking, and obviously these experiences are deeply distressing – so I am pleased to have represented the victims and their families today by supporting the bill brought forward by my colleague Sarah Wollaston MP.’
‘It is crucial we do everything we can to protect those affected and stop perpetrators at the earliest opportunity. It’s an issue which has previously affected me too, which I have raised in the House in previous debates and sadly all too often has been raised to me by women in my surgeries, often affected by their partners’
'Data protection rules have historically not helped matters when it’s come to protecting women.'
‘I also welcome the ongoing work being done to improve the police response to stalking, raising awareness amongst professionals, and increase the number of prosecutions for stalking offences.’
Mims has previously supported women’s issues such as stalking in her role on the Women and Equalities select committee, and in her former capacity as chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Women in Parliament. She now looks forwarding to supporting the Government in her new role as Assistant Government Whip, ensuring that vital Bills such as this one is passed by the House.