SINISTER stalkers who make people's lives a misery could soon be charged with a criminal offence following moves today by an East Lancashire MP.

Rossendale and Darwen MP Janet Anderson (pictured) was introducing a Commons Bill which would create an easily prosecutable offence dealing with people who repeatedly harasses their victims .

The Labour Whip's Ten Minute Rule Bill follows the imprisonment this week of Falklands War veteran Anthony Burstow for a three year campaign of 'stalking' 28 year old Tracey Sant.

And Home Office Minister David Maclean appeared to back her calls for change when he said the Government would look at tightening police powers to deal with stalkers.

Several celebrities, including tennis players Monica Seles and Steffi Graf, singer Madonna and super model Naomi Campbell, have been plagued by obsessively infatuated individuals.

But cases of stalkers harassing ordinary people are also causing concern.

Mrs Sant, 36, lost her home and her husband during a relentless campaign of harassment, which included Burstow bugging her telephones, stealing her underwear, sending her abusive letters and making abusive phone calls.

But Mrs Anderson believes the landmark conviction for causing psychological grievous bodily harm at Reading Crown Court is not enough and that a new offence is needed to stop the stalkers.

She said the case involved a sustained campaign of harassment, stopping short of actual physical assault.

Mrs Anderson said there is no adequate provision in the law to prosecute such offenders and that the police were often frustrated at their inability to stop this menacing practice.

She said there were many incidents where people, particularly women, had been stalked for years and ended up unable to feel at ease or safe.

All too often, she said, the police can only act when a stalker resorts to violence against their victim when they should have been locked up years before. She said that the Police Federation backed her call and that the legal wrangling during the Burstow case clearly demonstrated the need for a specific new offence.

She said: "My Bill will provide for the offence of stalking to be introduced into British Law and will enable the police and the Crown Prosecution Service to take firm action against these individuals who cause such misery for so many thousands of people."

The Government is reviewing stalking laws in Australia, Canada and America but Mr Maclean said: "The decision in the Burstow case is proof that our existing criminal law is not as inadequate as some people think.

"Nevertheless, when we have completed our review of the law in other countries, we will not hesitate to propose legislative changes if they are necessary."

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