STALKING should be made a specific offence in Wales and England, in the opinion of a Plaid MP.

Elfyn Llwyd led a Parliamentary inquiry which says existing laws do not work because they do not define stalking. He says it would stop harassment resulting in violence.

But MPs and peers from all parties warned a new law alone would not be enough to protect victims and "fundamental reform" of the system was needed.

The inquiry into Stalking Law Reform called for key changes to be made to training, risk assessments and the treatment and sentencing of stalkers in the Government's ongoing review of harassment legislation.

It comes after a man who stalked his ex-girlfriend on Facebook before stabbing her to death was jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years.

The inquiry recommended that anyone who breaches a restraining order should expect to be jailed and anyone charged with a serious violent or sexual offence should be refused bail unless there are exceptional circumstances.

Crown Court judges should also have the power to suspend the parental responsibilities of anyone convicted of "serious" stalking- related offences in a bid to stop them making vexatious applications for contact in the family courts, it said.

The inquiry's 30 recommendations also called for a stalker's previous offences to be taken into account by judges and for restrictions to be placed on offenders' use of phones, IT and letters once they are behind bars.

A victims' advocacy scheme should also be set up to help support stalking victims through the criminal justice system, it said.

Mr Llwyd said: "Stalking is a crime which shatters lives — but for too long it has remained a hidden crime which victims have been reluctant to report, fearing that they wouldn't be taken seriously."

Laura Richards, of Protection Against Stalking and an adviser to the inquiry, said: "It is time for change and to recognise the physical and psychological harm and terror that stalking causes. This is about murder prevention."

The inquiry heard stalking victims had little confidence in the system, with most saying police, prosecutors or the entire system let them down. Campaigners said women were being "victimised at the hands of their stalker, and then again by the system".

Harry Fletcher, assistant general secretary of probation union Napo, said prison sentences given to stalkers were so short that rehabilitation was impossible.

Just 20 stalkers a year are jailed for longer than 12 months for putting a victim in fear of violence, while some were behind bars for just days and others were sentenced to community orders and "inappropriate" domestic violence courses, the inquiry heard.

A Home Office spokesman said: "It is vital that victims of stalking get the support they need from the police and the courts and that offenders are properly punished.

"That's why we have been consulting the public on a specific offence of stalking and the need for better training and guidance for the police and Crown Prosecution Service.

"That consultation only closed yesterday and we need to carefully consider all responses before we act to ensure we get this right."