From today, police have new powers to tackle intentional harassment, alarm or distress because of a person’s sex.
As part of its wider strategy to tackle violence against women and girls, the government has introduced new legislation across England and Wale to address sexual harassment on our streets. The provisions of the Protection from Sex-based Harassment in Public Act 2023 come into force today (April 1, 2026).
Photo by Taras Chernus / Unsplash.
Under the terms of the new act, a person commits an offence where they intentionally harass, alarm or distress someone on account of their sex or presumed sex. If found guilty, they will now face a fine and/or up to two years in prison.
The new measures have been introduced to tackle such matters as obscene comments, threats of sexual violence and threatening, intimidating invasion of personal space. There’s evidence that such behaviour can form part of a wider pattern involving more serious crimes and violence. Until now, it has too often gone unchecked.
The impacts on victims of such intimidating behaviour have been studied in depth. Victims can be left anxious and on high alert. Women and girls often change their own behaviour – such as changing their routines or the routes they take – to ensure they feel safe.
This new legislation instead targets the perpetrators. It was originally introduced in Parliament as a Private Members’ Bill in 2022 by then MP Greg Clark, and in the House of Lords by Lord Wolfson of Tredegar. It received Royal Assent in September 2023.
New statutory guidance for the police has been published to guide them in enforcing the legislation consistently.
Jess Phillips MP, Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, says: ‘The sad reality is that many women and girls have been cornered, leered at or shouted at in public, or have faced intimidating threats of violence. Too often they’ve been made to feel like it’s their problem to manage. That is not good enough.
‘Instead of forcing women and girls to change their behaviour, we are going after those who choose to target and intimidate them. These new laws put the focus on perpetrators. If you harass someone in public because of their sex, it will not be tolerated and you can face a criminal record and up to two years behind bars.’
Rose Caldwell, CEO at Plan International UK, adds: ‘Everyone deserves to move through public spaces without fear. For too long, girls and young women have been left alone to navigate harassment that chips away at their confidence, dignity and freedom. Today marks a long-overdue shift that will make a genuine difference to their lives.
‘As the Protection from Sex-Based Harassment in Public Act comes into force, we now have clear guidance that names these behaviours for what they are: illegal and unacceptable. Girls shouldn’t have to fear uninvited touching on public transport or accept that it’s ‘just the way things are’ when they get catcalled on the street.
‘This is a win for all those who campaigned for safer streets and really matters in a world where we are seeing women and girls’ rights increasingly under attack. We’ll keep advocating to ensure victims feel safe to report this crime and continue banging the drum that this must be paired with prevention. This includes tackling misogyny early in our schools. Without addressing root causes of sexual harassment, we won’t fix the system that holds us all back from a fairer world.’
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