Offenders convicted of controlling or coercive behaviour can now have their sentence increased if someone believes the punishment was not severe enough.
The offence is one of 14 to which the ministry of justice has included in the unduly lenient sentence (ULS) scheme, giving victims and others the power to ask the attorney general to consider referring a sentence to the appeal court for reconsideration.
Justice secretary Robert Buckland said: “Sentences are decided by our independent judiciary based on the facts before them, but it is absolutely right that victims have a voice in the system when punishments don’t appear to fit the crime.”
Stalking involving fear of violence or serious alarm or distress is also included in the ULS extension which chiefly covers sexual offences.
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