Justice Minister Krzysztof Kwiatkowski has announced that stalking will be written into law as a crime.
“There have been situations where victims are effectively forced to change their lifestyle, their residence,” says Kwiatkowski, explaining why the Justice Ministry took the decision to expand criminal law to include stalking, which is identified based on persistent, malicious behavior that can include repeated solicitations, molestation and causes insecurity.
Kwiatkowski added that making hundreds of phone calls to someone, sending repeated SMS’, following or bombarding a victim with presents they may not want all fall under the category of stalking.
The Ministry’s move was prompted by a report that, amongst the 10,000 Poles surveyed, 10 percent consider themselves to have been stalked. Kwiatkowski says that the ministry encourages a punishment of up to 3 years behind bars for the crime. (mmj)
PAP, IAR
Related links:
Prosecutors to clamp down on stalkers. Thenews.pl. 01.06.2010
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