MP Nigel Huddleston has voiced his support for Conservative MP Sarah Wollaston’s bill on protections for victims.

The bill will introduce Stalking Protection Orders (SPOs) for use by the police against stalkers outside a domestic abuse context (stranger stalkers), which will come with a criminal penalty if breached.

This means that victims can be protected at a much earlier stage than under current legislation, which requires criminal charges to be brought to a court before action can be taken.

One in five women and one in ten men have experienced stalking behaviour in their lives.

Mr Huddleston said: "This bill puts the needs of victims first and looks to bridge the legislative gap that currently allows stalkers to act unpunished for too long.

"It gives police appropriate and effective mechanisms for dealing with something that is, unfortunately, an increasing problem.

"One in ten women and one in five men are now impacted by stalking during their adult lifetime.

"I know that colleagues across the house share my support for Sarah Wollaston’s excellent bill and I hope that it gives police the means to support victims and intervene in stalking cases at the earliest possible stage. It is an abhorrent behaviour that must be dealt with.”