POLICE will face fewer barriers to obtaining court orders to protect victims of stalking, under changes announced today.

Updated Home Office guidance means officers will no longer have to meet the criminal standard of evidence when applying for stalking protection orders and will instead have to meet the lower civil standard.

Emma Lingley-Clark, chief executive of charity the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, welcomed the changes, saying the previous standard had been “a barrier to victims getting immediate protection when they need it the most.”

She also called for an increase in the use of protection orders and said police officers’ understanding of such orders needed to be improved.

Victims & Safeguarding Minister Laura Farris said the changes would make “a big difference to how easily victims can access protection.”