Let the stalker beware? Analysis of the law of stalking in Scotland.

Middlemiss, Sam

Abstract

This article analyses the significance of changes to the law in Scotland dealing with stalking by outlining the previous legal position and examining the new legal rules and their impact. Stalking has been proven to be extremely harmful to the victims of the behaviour and their families, and proper legislative rules to deal with it in Scotland have been long overdue. The legislative protection required for stalking victims was introduced in 2010 and it now seems an opportune time to review the legal rules and their impact in protecting victims against stalkers in Scotland. In the process, consideration of statistical data concerning stalking prosecutions is also considered. The article also includes analysis of the legal position of stalking victims in England and Wales where new offences have recently been introduced.

Citation

MIDDLEMISS, S. 2014. Let the stalker beware? Analysis of the law of stalking in Scotland. Journal of criminal law [online], 78(5), pages 407-422. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1350/jcla.2014.78.5.942

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 1, 2014
• Online Publication Date: Oct 1, 2014
• Publication Date: Oct 31, 2014
• Deposit Date: Nov 21, 2014
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 21, 2014
• Journal: Journal of criminal law
• Print ISSN: 0022-0183
• Electronic ISSN: 1740-5580
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 78
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 407-422
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1350/jcla.2014.78.5.942
• Keywords: Stalkers; Harassment; Scotland; Antisocial behaviour; Antistalking legislation
• Public URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10059/1078