UK: Street harassment to be banned in crackdown, government says

Article here. Excerpt:

'The government will now back legislation tabled by former business secretary Greg Clark.

Mr Clark said the intention of the bill is "to reinforce a change in the culture that establishes that it is completely unacceptable to abuse women in the streets".

During a debate in the House of Commons, Mr Clark said: "Public sexual harassment can affect men and boys, but we should be clear that it disproportionately affects women and girls."

The backbencher's bill aims to criminalise:

  • Deliberately walking closely behind someone as they walk home at night
  • Making obscene or aggressive comments towards a person
  • Making obscene or offensive gestures towards a person
  • Obstructing a person's path
  • Driving or riding a vehicle slowly near to a person making a journey

As it stands, the bill will also introduce harsher sentences - increasing the maximum sentences from six months to two years.

Campaigners have also called for wolf-whistling and staring intently to be criminalised.

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Comments

... being male while walking in proximity of a female he does not know.

2 years.

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