Commentary on Sections Section 6 to 17 – Stalking Protection Orders Section 16 - Offences relating to notification
This section provides that it is a criminal offence to fail to comply with the notification requirements without reasonable excuse or knowingly to provide the police with false information. It will be for a court to decide what constitutes a reasonable excuse in a particular case.
Subsection (2) provides the penalty for the offence relating to notification requirements.
The maximum penalty on summary conviction (heard in a magistrates’ court) is 6 months imprisonment or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum (£5,000) or both.
The maximum penalty on conviction on indictment (heard in a crown court) is 5 years imprisonment or a fine, or both.