SCOTLAND's first specialist prosecutor of stalkers has pledged to offer extra protection to victims.

Les Brown wants to put the safety of complainers at the centre of his job as he aims to impose more "no approach" conditions on those accused of the crime - and those convicted of it.

Mr Brown, speaking as he was unveiled as the Crown Office's national lead for the crime, said he wanted victims to feel they could come forward without endangering themselves.

He said: "I want to put safety concerns of victims at the centre of how we approach these offences, which have a horrific corrosive effect on people's lives.

"That will involve considerations of the liberty of the accused, whether bail should be opposed.

"If the court is minded to grant bail, then it will involve ensuring there are special conditions of bail that can be enforced.

"After conviction, we should get the views of the victim to see if we should seek what is known as a non-harassment order. If that is breached, that is a separate criminal offence."

Scotland introduced a specific offence of stalking in 2010 and now has what politicians believe are some of the toughest laws in the world to protect victims of the crime.

Stalkers can be jailed for up to five years, but non-harassment orders - civil measures - can also be sought with or without convictions. These, if breached, also can lead to a prison sentence of up to five years.

The Herald revealed last year that a third of the 1400 people reported to the fiscal for alleged stalking had been convicted in the first three years of the legislation.

Investigation and prosecution of the crime have always been very difficult - because single episodes of stalking behaviour, such as leaving a bunch of flowers or sending a text message, do not always appear sinister.

Mr Brown said: "Stalking is a very insidious crime, but I think it can require a particular investigative approach.

"Context is all important. Some behaviours can appear innocent or non-criminal. But they can look very different from the perspective of the victim and in the context of what has happened before them. The challenge for prosecutors and investigating police officers is not to take a piecemeal approach."

Mr Brown was appointed by Solicitor General Lesley Thomson, who stressed the need for "a consistent and robust approach to stalking cases" across the country.

She said: "Prosecutors throughout Scotland have been trained to recognise the patterns of behaviour which constitute stalking. Individual incidents that may appear innocent on the surface can be part of a campaign designed to cause maximum fear and alarm."

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said Mr Brown's appointment was a "significant step forward in not only recognising the seriousness of this crime but also strengthening the action taken against those convicted of it".