Victim Support Scotland was represented  at the launch of National Stalking Awareness Day in the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday, April 18.  A similar launch also took place at the House of Commons in London.  

Ann Moulds, the founder of the National Stalking Group chaired the event, which celebrated the passing of the Act which makes stalking a specific crime in Scotland and informed the 80 invited guests about awareness-raising initiatives in schools and colleges across the country.  

The launch was addressed by Cabinet Secretary for Justice Mr Kenny MacAskill MSP,  Assistant Chief Constable Iain Livingstone of Lothian and Borders Police (who is the ACPOS Lead for Public Protection) and Solicitor General for Scotland Lesley Thomson, QC.

From England, updating the meeting on legislative progress south of the Border, were Harry Fletcher, Assistant General Secretary of NAPO the probation officers union and Laura Richards of Protection Against Stalking.  Harry and Laura are Lead Advisers to the Independent Inquiry into Stalking Law Reform in England and Wales.   The final speakers were Kathleen Caskie of Victim Support Scotland and Louise Johnson from Scottish Women's Aid.

For more information about Stalking Awareness Day and about the crime in general, visit www.scotlandagainststalking.com.