Question to the Attorney General:

To ask the Solicitor General, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the conviction rate for the offence of stalking; and if she will have discussions with the Secretary of State for Justice on increasing the maximum sentence for that offence.

This Government is committed to tackling stalking as part of our ambitious mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade.

Since 2017, there have been yearly increases in the number of stalking offences charged which proceeded to a first hearing in the magistrates’ courts. In 2018/19, there were 2,208 such cases, and in 2023/24, they more than doubled to 5,859. However, more can be done.

In April 2023, the CPS amended prosecutorial guidance on stalking which has assisted prosecutors to better select the appropriate charge.

Earlier this month and in partnership with the National Police Chiefs’ Council, I welcomed the CPS’ Domestic Abuse Joint Justice Plan, which aims to improve the way that cases are prosecuted and handled. Stalking features prominently in the plan, which applies to all forms of stalking, and is captured within high-harm, high-risk repeat offending.

The Government has also delivered on a manifesto commitment to launch an Independent Review of Sentencing, chaired by former Lord Chancellor David Gauke, to bring sentencing up to date and ensure the framework is consistent and clear to victims and the public.