Clive and Sue Ruggles, whose daughter Alice Ruggles was murdered in 2016 by her ex-boyfriend, have welcomed a new judge-led review into stalking laws
The parents of a young woman murdered by her ex-boyfriend have welcomed a “major step forward” tackling police failures in stalking cases.
Clive and Sue Ruggles, whose daughter Alice was killed by Trimaan Dhillon after he broke into her flat, welcomed a new judge-led review launched by the Home Office into existing laws.
Alice, 24, endured weeks of stalking by Dhillon after she broke off their relationship in 2016. She was attacked with a carving knife at her Gateshead home. The Home Office said police forces had failed to recognise cases and mishandled cases when they were reported.
READ MORE: Nigel Farage savaged over shamed Russia bribe MEP in brutal clashREAD MORE: Visiting PM says UK paying price for Brexit with dig at Nigel Farage ‘theatrics’
Richard Wright KC, who helped prosecute Alice’s killer, will head the probe. Clive and Sue said: “Our goal has always been to ensure that what happened to Alice never happens to anyone else.
“Over the past nine years, we’ve witnessed significant progress – particularly with the introduction of Stalking Protection Orders. However, the way stalking legislation has been interpreted has consistently posed serious challenges.
“This latest development is a major step forward, and we couldn’t be more pleased.” The Alice Ruggles Trust said: “We welcome the appointment of Richard Wright KC to lead on the review.
“We feel fully confident that Richard has a true in-depth knowledge of the complexities of stalking, having successfully prosecuted Trimaan Dhillon for Alice’s murder.
“This review is something that we have long campaigned for, alongside our partners within the National Stalking Consortium, and we are elated it is coming to fruition.”
Chilling figures from the Crime Survey of England and Wales show 1.4 million people over 16 experienced stalking in the past year. But campaigners say huge gaps in the law need to be looked at.
The review will examine how stalking and harassment laws work together, and whether the system needs to be clearer and more joined-up.
Last year the government unveiled six new measures to tackle stalking. These include new ‘Right to Know’ statutory guidance to empower the police to release the identity of stalkers at the earliest opportunity.
Other measures include victims being given more protection from offenders by making Stalking Protection Orders more widely available as well as defining stalking in statutory guidance.
Mr Wright said: “It is essential that the criminal law provides the necessary level of protection to victims of this serious offence and that as a result victims have confidence in the criminal justice system and feel able to report dangerous stalking behaviour.”