A number of objections have been raised. Indeed, there was a News Release by the Home Office on 9th May which accompanied Mr. David Maclean's letter to Janet Anderson. Column 1819 to rehearse those objections and consider how far the Bill deals with them and how further work may be required in Committee. First, it is argued that the definition of stalking is too wide. There are laws against stalking in other parts of the world.
Laws exist in Canada, states of the United States and states in Australia.
They appear to work. In this Bill we have taken the best and most workable definitions of stalking and sought to put them into British legislation. If they are too wide, it is up to Parliament to narrow them and be more precise about them when the matter comes to Committee. Another objection is that journalists, in particular, might be constrained from their activities by a stalking law. Of course, the whole issue of what journalists may or may not do in pursuit of a news story goes very much wider than stalking.