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<p> </p><p> </p><p>A comprehensive framework of civil remedies and criminal offences
is available to deal with stalking and harassment. This framework was strengthened
by this Government by amendments to the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 made by
the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, which introduced new stalking offences. These
offences are designed to address specific stalking behaviour as opposed to harassment
more generally. The new offence under section 4A of the Protection from Harassment
Act 1997 covers a course of conduct which causes serious alarm or distress which has
a substantial adverse effect on the day-to-day activities of the victim. This recognises
the overall emotional and psychological harm that stalking may cause to victims, even
where there is no explicit fear of violence. The maximum penalty for the section 2A
offence is six months' imprisonment and for the section 4A offence the maximum penalty
is five years' imprisonment.</p><p> </p><p>The Ministry of Justice Court Proceedings
Database holds information on defendants sentenced for criminal offences by Police
Force Area in England and Wales. The number of offenders sentenced to immediate custody
for offences related to harassment and stalking (relating solely to racially or religiously
aggravated stalking with or without fear of violence under Section 32 (1) of the Crime
and Disorder Act 1998) in the Northumbria Police Force Area from 2008 to 2012 can
be viewed in the table. The Northumbria Police Force Area covers Newcastle, Gateshead,
South Tyneside, North Tyneside, Sunderland and Northumberland.It has not been possible
to separately identify those offenders in the county of Northumberland.</p><p> </p><p>There
were new triable-either-way offences for stalking introduced by Sections 4A of the
Protection from Harassment Act 1997, as inserted by Section 111 of the Protection
of Freedoms Act 2012, which commenced on 25th November 2012. Between this point and
the end of December 2012, there were no defendants proceeded against in England and
Wales under this.</p><p> </p>
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