http://bigpondnews.com/articles/TopStories/2009/05/17/Prosecuting_stalkers_made_easier_333085.htmlProsecuting stalkers made easier Sunday, May 17, 2009 » 10:50pm
Stalking offences are being more successfully prosecuted with less involvement from victims since the introduction of new NSW laws, the state government says.
Stalking acts are a regular occurrence and serious enough to carry a penalty of up to five years in prison, NSW Attorney-General John Hatzistergos says.
Between March and September last year, some 326 people were charged with stalking.
The law was changed in March 2008 to incorporate stalking by mobile phone, text messaging and stalking over the internet.
'The new Act expanded powers for police prosecutors to submit evidence around patterns of behaviour and has resulted in a spike in the number of guilty pleas entered, up from 70 to 88 per cent,' a spokesman for Mr Hatzistergos said in a statement.
'This has had the effect of reducing the number of victims who need to face offenders in court.'
Mr Hatzistergos said people had the right to go about their daily lives without fear of intimidation or harassment.
'These new laws have sent a clear message to would-be stalkers: stalking is a crime and offenders face serious penalties, including up to five years in prison,' Mr Hatzistergos said in a statement.
'By expanding the range of evidence that can be used in prosecutions, the government's new stalking offence has proven to be an effective weapon in convicting more offenders.'
