Commentary on Sections Section 6 to 17 – Stalking Protection Orders Section 20 – Report on the operation of this Act
This section requires the Department of Justice to prepare a report on the operation of the Act.
Subsection (2) sets out that the report is to set out a range of information on the offence of stalking, including: the number of stalking incidents recorded by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (broken down by police district); the number of files submitted to the Public Prosecution Service; prosecutions; convictions; and the average length of time for disposal of cases.
Subsections (3) and (4) details that the report is to set out a range of information in relation to stalking protection orders and interim stalking protection orders, including: the number of stalking protection order incidents recorded by the Police Service of Northern Ireland; the number of applications for orders; the number of orders discharged; the number of applications to vary, renew or discharge orders; and information about the level of compliance with orders.
Subsection (5) provides that the report must include information about the level of training under section 19; information about how court business is arranged; the experience at court of witnesses; any issuing, review or revision of guidance by the Department under section 17; public awareness raising; and anything else considered appropriate by the Department.
Subsection (6) provides that there are ongoing reporting requirements, with each reporting period three years after the previous one. The first reporting period is two to three years after the provisions relating to the offence of stalking and to stalking protection orders and interim stalking protection orders come into operation.
Subsections (7) and (8) requires the report to be laid at the Assembly and published while subsection (9) provides that the requirement would no longer apply if regulations to this effect were brought forward, within ten years after the Act comes into operation being the earliest that this can take effect.