CAMPAIGNING MP Janet Anderson still hopes the Government will make a U-turn and back her Bill to make stalking a crime - despite a cool response from the Home Office.

Blackburn MP Jack Straw has written to Home Secretary Michael Howard calling for him to back the Rossendale and Darwen MP's proposal.

But Mr Howard's deputy David Maclean said he had reservations.

Mr Maclean responded: "I fully understand and sympathise with what Janet Anderson is trying to achieve. "I am always prepared to consider any proposals to give further protection to innocent people whose lives are being made a misery by the evil actions of others.

"However, the Government has some concerns about the Bill. It's scope could be too wide. It could criminalise legitimate activities.

"For example, journalists door-stepping a politician in hot pursuit of tomorrow's front page story could find themselves falling foul of the law."

But he did admit that the Home Office was reviewing the law on stalking - a fact which Mrs Anderson has seized upon.

She said: "I hope even at this late hour that the Government will agree to support my Bill.

"The question of journalists can easily be dealt with by a simple amendment at committee stage."

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