Stalkers will now face up to five years in jail if they breach bans on approaching victims.
Courts can start issuing new Stalking Protection Orders from tomorrow to stop the pests going near targets for two years.
The move is a victory for the Sunday People’s campaign, though a register of culprits has not been included.
It will also be a relief to the one in five women and a tenth of men who have been plagued at home, at work or in places of learning.
Safeguarding Minister Victoria Atkins said: “Stalking can lead to victims feeling isolated or abused – and even losing their lives. SPOs will now help the police intervene and take early action.”
The new law will also force stalkers to seek professional help. It was prompted by the 2016 murder of student Alice Ruggles.
The 24-year-old, from Gateshead, Tyneside, was relentlessly stalked by her jealous ex-boyfriend Trimaan Dhillon before he killed her. He was later jailed for life.
Her father Clive, who set up the Alice Ruggles Trust to raise awareness of stalking, said: “We feel SPOs could have made a critical difference in Alice’s case and they will help to improve the outcome for many others.”
