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Barry Sheerman MP attended a Protection Against Stalking seminar Wednesday in support of the Justice Unions' Parliamentary Group efforts to reform current UK stalking laws.

According to the latest statistics, 53,000 offenses of harassment were recorded by the police. Of these, only 12% were found guilty. Only 18.5% of these convicted were jailed, while the rest received fines or were dealt with in other ways.

However, the British Crime Survey in 2006 has suggested that up to 5 million people experience stalking or harassment at any given year.

Barry believes these statistics point to harrowing problem in the UK. Alongside 80 other MPs from all parties, Barry supports creating a clearer definition of stalking in law, making cyber stalking an offence and making sure police prioritise complaints from women and men who are being stalked.

Stalking is frequently injurious to victims' psychological, physical and social function, yet 77% of persons who are stalked do not contact the police until there have been at least 100 incidents. Police also only have limited powers to enter and search premises of arrested stalkers. Cyber-stalking, which is now common, is not covered by the law.

Therefore, Barry urges the government to consider efforts that would provide greater support to people who are being stalked, including an overhaul of stalking law. Early Day Motion 1435 on National Stalking Awareness Week, which Barry has signed to support these efforts, can be seen here.

Barry urges anyone who thinks they may be experiencing problems associated with stalking to contact the police.