Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Can I start by thanking Plaid Cymru for tabling this important motion for debate today? It's very timely that you've brought this for debate in the run-up to National Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week, an annual event that actually aims to bring people together to both condemn this behaviour and to push for change. I am also pleased to support the Welsh Conservatives' amendments today. I think it strengthens and provides a united message from this Senedd to draw attention to the horrific impact of stalking on victims' lives. But it also does give us an opportunity to highlight the essential work being carried out by the Welsh Government to tackle violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence. Can I say, to all of those who've contributed today, that all the contributions you made will be taken into account? They will help steer the way forward in the strengthening of the action that needs to be taken at all levels of this Government and all Governments who have powers and responsibilities.

Stalking is an abhorrent crime, and it's a prime example of the misuse of power and control that typifies violence against women and girls that's been identified. Stalking is designed to cause fear, alarm and distress to victims. It's persistent, it's intrusive—we've heard a real-life example this afternoon—and not only does it ruin lives, but it has a long-standing impact, as has been said, on mental health and post-traumatic stress disorder. Appallingly, as has been highlighted, the data shows it's increasing, as well.

So, I also want to draw this debate alongside the written statement I issued only last month after the tragic death of Ashling Murphy, which sadly followed on from statements I've made after the murders of Sabina Nessa and Sarah Everard. These women, and many more, are the victims of male violence. Their lives were cut short because they were not safe on our streets: not safe to walk home, not safe to exercise, not safe to simply be women going about their lives. You've heard me say this before, and I am unapologetic about repeating myself, but what I hope you've also heard are the voices of women who are standing up in response to these cruel, tragic, but sadly persistent crimes, and saying, 'This is enough.'

You will have heard the voices of those who attended the vigil for Ashling in Grange Gardens in Cardiff last month, for example. Following the vigil, Sara Robinson summed this up so perfectly in her column in the Western Mail, urging us all to,

'build a world where we don't need these vigils'.

She came, as a young woman who likes to go running, to take part in that vigil, and I think many women and men went in support, to make that point and to make that stand there that night. So, I think debates like this do provide that opportunity to add our voices to theirs, to all agree that it is wrong, it has to stop, and together we have to create that world where vigils are not necessary because of these abhorrent acts.

So, that's why we're strengthening and expanding our violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence strategy to include that focus on violence and harassment against women in the public space as well as in the home, and to ensure that that refreshed strategy is developed alongside key partners—and this is reflected in the motion—including the police, police and crime commissioners, and of course the specialist sector who have been working for years and years, particularly those providing refuge support for domestic abuse and sexual assault referral centres, and of course they provide such incredible, invaluable support to victims and survivors of stalking as well as other forms of VAWDASV.

So, it is joint working—and that message has come through across this Chamber—with agencies such as the police and criminal justice partners, to make legislation work—what has been highlighted is the failure really, in terms of the lack of stalking orders—to hold it to account and see what else we need to do. But we do recognise that at the heart of this revised strategy, we've got to—