Emily Thornberry, Labour’s Shadow Attorney General, responding to figures showing an increase in prosecutions for harassment and stalking, said:

“Labour has been pressing the Government to reverse the slide in harassment prosecutions and welcomes today’s CPS announcement. But behind the headline figures it’s clear how far off we still are from being able to say that the criminal justice system offers an adequate response to victims of stalking and harassment.

“The 10,535 prosecutions that took place in 2013-14 represented just 17 per cent of reports of harassment made to the police that year. Ministry of Justice figures earlier this year showed a conviction rate of just 34 per cent for the new stalking offences, with more than half of those who were convicted escaping a custodial sentence. We need assurances from ministers this is being addressed.

“The key to getting more stalkers behind bars is to ensure that victims feel that they can report their crimes and take a stand against their stalkers. The DPP’s guidance s a good first step but Labour believes it should go further. That’s why we are committed to bringing in a victims’ law that would give victims and witnesses concrete legal rights and prevent repeats of the horrific courtroom experiences that have done so much to damage confidence in our justice system.”