Home Secretary Suella Braverman announcing a specific new offence of sexual harassment in public
(Picture: PA Wire)Perpetrators of sexual harassment in public will face up to two years in jail under a new crackdown announced on Friday.
The Government backed making public sexual harassment a specific criminal offence.
New legislation will introduces harsher sentences for people who deliberately harass, alarm, or distress someone in a public place because of the victim’s sex.
Public sexual harassment is already illegal.
But the maximum sentence for committing the offence will now increase from six months to two years.
It will have a high bar to result in a charge, with evidence of alarm or distress needing to be proved.
Ministers hope that bringing in a specific offence will encourage more women and other victims to come forward and will also highlight the severity of the crime.
Street harassment can include sexually explicit catcalling, persistent verbal abuse and stalking women in public.
A public consultation showed overwhelming support for making it a criminal offence.
Campaigners have argued that subjecting women to unwanted attention is often seen as harmless by men, but can lead to psychological trauma and PTSD-like symptoms such as depression, anxiety and low self-esteem for victims.
Surveys have shown that around half of all women aged between 16 and 34 have experienced harassment in the last year, including dealing with unwanted sexual comments in the street.
Campaign group Right to Equality, founded by Dr Charlotte Proudman, said: “Women should not be made to feel scared or embarrassed by what they’ve experienced – society needs to recognise that public sexual harassment is a serious crime which deserves severe punishment for anyone found guilty.
“It is essential that we stand united on this issue - men must also take part in eradicating this problem from our societies by challenging those around them who engage in inappropriate behaviour towards women.”
“Every woman should feel safe to walk our streets without fear of harassment or violence,” said Home Secretary Suella Braverman.
“And that is why we are supporting this bill to introduce a specific offence on public sexual harassment.”
She added: “It’s a complex issue and we’ve carefully considered the arguments, taking into account a range of views.
“We are putting the needs of victims at the heart of our decision, which will mean the criminals who commit these acts face the consequences they deserve.”
The specific new offence is being brought in through former Cabinet minister Greg Clark’s Protection from Sex-based Harassment in Public Bill, a private member’s bill being debated in the Commons on Friday.
The Home Office stressed that a wide range of experts were consulted over the summer on introducing a specific offence of public sexual harassment which is seen by many as a widespread problem.
It concluded that there was a need for a specific offence, so the crime is clearer to both the public and police.
British Transport Police Assistant Chief Constable Charlie Doyle, said: “No woman should be subjected to harassment or intimidation as they travel and we will always welcome any extra help in bringing more offenders to justice.
“We have always taken reports of sexual harassment extremely seriously, however I hope the proposed legislation will reinforce our clear message to perpetrators that it simply won’t be tolerated.
“We know that all forms of sexual harassment are under-reported to police and I hope this increased awareness will encourage more victims to come forward and tell us about what’s happened to them.”
