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<p><strong>(a)</strong> The National Probation Service is a new organisation that
has only been in existence since June 2014. The Professional Skills Training team
are in the process of putting together the national training plan and stalking awareness
will be part of this.</p><p> </p><p>(<strong>b</strong>) & <strong>(c)</strong>
The responsibility for judicial training for courts judiciary lies with the Lord Chief
Justice as head of the judiciary and is exercised through the Judicial College. Magistrates
sit with legal advisers in court who advise them on the law.</p><p> </p><p>The new
stalking laws came from the amendments made to the Protection from Harassment Act
1997 by the Protection of Freedom Act 2012. The Judicial College provides regular
updates to judges and legal advisers on any changes to the law via a jurisdictional
electronic internal newsletter, and did so in respect of these provisions in June
2012.</p><p> </p><p>The Home Office also issued a circular [Ref: 018/2012] on the
new provisions in October 2012. This was issued to the Association Of Chief Police
Officers (in England And Wales And Northern Ireland), Association Of Magisterial Officers,
Central Council Of Magistrates Courts, Justices Clerks Society, Law Society, Magistrates
Association, Ministry of Justice, and the Judicial College.</p><p> </p><p>In addition
the Justices Clerks Society also issued a circular to their members outlining the
new provisions in December 2012.</p><p> </p><p>The Judicial College regularly assesses
judicial training needs and how to meet them. Ultimately, judges use the law to make
independent decisions based on the evidence and information provided to them in court.</p><p>
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