UK Government Lowers Legal Barriers for Stalking Protection Orders

The new statutory guidance aims to facilitate quicker protection for stalking victims by adopting a civil standard of proof.

The UK Home Office has updated the statutory guidance, allowing police to use a civil standard of proof for Stalking Protection Orders (SPOs).
This change is expected to increase the accessibility of protective orders for victims, addressing the previously high barriers of the criminal proof standard.
Stalking Protection Orders, introduced in 2020, can impose severe restrictions on perpetrators, including jail terms for breaches.
The move coincides with the start of National Stalking Awareness Week and follows reports of low application rates for SPOs across various police forces.
Authorities emphasize the need for ongoing improvements in police training and public understanding of stalking to enhance safety measures.