Last year the number of prosecutions for stalking and harassment in England and Wales rose to 10,535 – up 20% on the previous year.
Of those convictions more than 743 were brought as the result of new laws and legislation and may not have previously come to court without them, the Crown Prosecution Service has said.
In November 2012 two specific offences of stalking were introduced into law for the first time. The new offences created under the Protection of Freedoms Act meant a charge could be brought when an alleged stalker’s behaviour caused serious alarm or distress to the victim.
Before their introduction people accused of stalking were prosecuted under harassment laws, but only when their actions were seen to cause a serious fear of violence.
Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders, said: “These new offences enable us to bring people to court potentially before they risk going on to commit more serious crimes.
“The rise in prosecutions sends a message to both victims and criminals about how seriously we are taking these types of offences.”
The Protocol on the Appropriate Handling of Stalking Offences, written and agreed by the Crown Prosecution Service and Association of Chief Police Officers, hopes to see a consistent approach to the crime adopted across England and Wales.
It calls for all victims to have greater consultation on restraining orders and bail issues and is designed to give them the opportunity to make a personal statement safely and without duress in court.
Speaking with the BBC, Rachel Griffin, director of the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, the charity behind the National Stalking Helpline, said she welcomed the news.
But added: “We often hear from victims of stalking… who need more and better support through both the investigation and trial process.
“The next steps have to be to ensure that all officers are trained to ensure that the guidance in the protocols become a reality.”