Victims have for a long time experienced that the efforts of the police could be “hesitant”, explains the professor, who specializes in trauma.
– They (the victims, ed.) Face the challenges that they have not been able to stop the stalker, and they have not had the opportunity to do so on a legal basis, says Ask Elklit.
– Therefore, it is really good that there are now far more opportunities for the police and the judiciary to go in and do something effective to stop the stalker.
Admittedly, the Supreme Court has previously, with existing legislation, sentenced a man to one year and three months in prison for stalking a younger woman.
But a separate stalking clause in the penal code must now both define and criminalize stalking. The penalty should be up to three years in prison.
In all police districts, specialized teams must be set up, and officers must have the opportunity for special training, it appears from the proposal.
That focus is needed, the professor believes.
– The victims have complained that when they have approached the police, they have basically just been told that they should register these assaults, and when the list was long enough, the police would intervene. Now I think it can happen much faster, says Professor Ask Elklit.
As part of the agreement, the Danish Stalking Center’s treatment capacity will be expanded.
The psychology professor also welcomes this initiative. But he stresses that treatment can only try to “repair” a damage that has already been done. Therefore, it is important to stop stalking early in the process.
– We have examined stalked mothers and found that they felt incredibly bad. Three-quarters of the group had PTSD and a high incidence of anxiety and depression. So it was a little bit shocking, says Ask Elklit.
Some of the initiatives, such as the new section of the Criminal Code, require new legislation passed in the Folketing.
The agreement “Better help for victims of stalking” contains a total of 14 initiatives.
Source: The Nordic Page