Mary is proud to be a co-sponsor of this will which seeks to make stalking a criminal offence.

The bill provides for a specific offence of stalking, which is characterised by repeated, unwanted behaviour that occurs as a result of fixation or obsession and causes alarm, distress or harm to the victim and recommends a maximum sentence of 10 years.

The Law Reform Commission has already recommended that specific stalking offence should be enacted.

The Commission said that naming stalking as an offence appears to have had a significant practical effect, with the number of prosecutions for stalking activity increasing in both Scotland and England and Wales since they introduced specific stalking offences.

Also identifying stalking as a specific crime carries particular importance for victims of stalking because of the “hidden” nature of the crime as well as its more serious nature compared to harassment.

To read the bill click here