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1688165

registered interest
date	07/02/2024
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Sexual Harassment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 8 January 2024 to Question 8419 on Protection from Sex-based Harassment in Public Act 2023, when he plans to publish the statutory guidance for the Protection from Sex-based Harassment in Public Act 2023.
tabling member constituency	Walthamstow
tabling member printed	Stella Creasy
uin	13568
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/02/2024 answer text <p>We supported the Protection from Sex-Based Harassment in Public Act 2023 (sponsored by Rt Hon. Greg Clark MP and Lord Wolfson of Tredegar KC), which makes public sexual harassment a specific offence. As with any new criminal justice legislation, an implementation period is necessary to ensure all processes, systems and guidance are updated – including drawing up the statutory guidance. We are working to ensure the legislation comes into force as quickly as reasonably possible.</p> answering member constituency Newbury answering member printed Laura Farris question first answered 19/02/2024 16:18:49 answering member 4826 label Biography information for Laura Farris
tabling member	4088 label Biography information for Stella Creasy

1641284

registered interest
date	02/06/2023
answering body	Women and Equalities
answering dept id	31
answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
hansard heading	Sexual Harassment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether she plans to outlaw sexual harassment from third parties.
tabling member constituency	Oxford East
tabling member printed	Anneliese Dodds
uin	187307
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/06/2023 answer text <p>The Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Bill, introduced by Wera Hobhouse MP, will deliver these two legislative commitments. We are aware of concerns raised by some Parliamentarians about the balance the Bill strikes between protecting free speech and tackling harassment. However, the Government remains committed to these measures: we continue to support the Bill and are engaging noble Lords to reassure them on these points.</p><p> </p><p>Ultimately, as the Bill has now passed to the House of Lords, progress is now in the hands of the Lords. I and my officials are in regular contact with the Lords and Commons Whips offices in relation to this Bill.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Lewes answering member printed Maria Caulfield grouped question UIN 187305 187306 question first answered 08/06/2023 15:44:14 answering member 4492 label Biography information for Maria Caulfield
tabling member	4657 label Biography information for Anneliese Dodds

1535873

registered interest
date	25/10/2022
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Sexual Harassment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when his department plans to publish its response to the public sexual harassment consultation that closed on 1 September 2022.
tabling member constituency	Camberwell and Peckham
tabling member printed	Ms Harriet Harman
uin	70929
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/10/2022 answer text <p>The Government is committed to tackling public sexual harassment and as such on the 25<sup>th</sup> October, we were delighted to launch the second stage of our ‘Enough’ communications campaign. This new stage includes a range of new communications assets across television, social media, digital advertising and other channels, which look to advise and give bystanders practical tips on how they can safely take action to stop violence against women and girls.</p><p>We are grateful for all the responses received to the consultation on whether there should be a public sexual harassment offence, and Ministers will make clear their position on the issue as soon as possible.</p> answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp question first answered 31/10/2022 18:11:53 answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp previous answer version 29146 answering member constituency Croydon South answering member printed Chris Philp answering member 4503 label Biography information for Chris Philp
tabling member	150 label Biography information for Ms Harriet Harman

1505386

registered interest
date	06/09/2022
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Sexual Harassment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how reported incidents of catcalling, including on the street, are logged by the police.
tabling member constituency	Hornsey and Wood Green
tabling member printed	Catherine West
uin	48457
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/09/2022 answer text <p>The Government takes all forms of sexual harassment extremely seriously. While there is not a specific ‘catcalling’ offence, depending on the circumstance of the case, this behaviour may be captured my other offences including harassment and public order offences. The most recent data show that in the year to March 2022, the police recorded 263,919 harassment offences. This is a 20% increase on the year to March 2021, likely driven by an increase in victims reporting to the police and improvements in recording practices. In addition, in the year to March 2022 the police recorded 472,067 offences of public fear, alarm or distress, an increase of 27% on the year to March 2021. Public fear, alarm or distress can be used by police to capture behaviours that do not meet the criteria required to formally be recognised as a harassment offence, for example when the behaviour happens once and not repeated. It is not possible from the data available to determine the type of harassment experienced, nor which offences were sexual in nature. The Home Office Counting Rules provide a national standard for the recording and counting of ‘notifiable’ offences recorded by police forces in England and Wales (known as ‘recorded crime’).</p><p> </p><p>We have taken a number of actions to tackle street sexual harassment. In September 2021 we launched the pilot StreetSafe tool enabling the public to report anonymously areas where they feel unsafe, so that local authorities and the police can take practical steps in response. Since October 2021, we have announced awards of £23.5 million to PCCs and local authorities under Round 3 of the Safer Streets Fund, followed by £50m to 100 projects in Round 4 of the Fund to make public spaces safer for everyone with many projects aiming to help women and girls feel safer on the streets. Furthermore, in December 2021 the College of Policing published a new guidance product for police officers, advising them how to respond to reports of public sexual harassment, and in August the CPS published updates to its legal guidance on public order offences to make clear to prosecutors how public order offences can be used to tackle public sexual harassment.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, in March 2022 we launched the ‘Enough’ communications campaign, which seeks to change public attitudes and tolerance towards crimes such as public sexual harassment.</p><p>In July we launched a targeted consultation on whether there should be a specific criminal offence of public sexual harassment. The consultation closed on 1 September and the Home Office is now in the process of analysing the responses.</p> answering member constituency Horsham answering member printed Jeremy Quin question first answered 21/09/2022 15:50:42 answering member 4507 label Biography information for Sir Jeremy Quin previous answer version 19180 answering member constituency Horsham answering member printed Jeremy Quin answering member 4507 label Biography information for Sir Jeremy Quin
tabling member	4523 label Biography information for Catherine West

1505387

registered interest
date	06/09/2022
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Sexual Harassment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many incidents of catcalling have been reported to the police in the UK since January 2022.
tabling member constituency	Hornsey and Wood Green
tabling member printed	Catherine West
uin	48458
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/09/2022 answer text <p>The Government takes all forms of sexual harassment extremely seriously. While there is not a specific ‘catcalling’ offence, depending on the circumstance of the case, this behaviour may be captured my other offences including harassment and public order offences. The most recent data show that in the year to March 2022, the police recorded 263,919 harassment offences. This is a 20% increase on the year to March 2021, likely driven by an increase in victims reporting to the police and improvements in recording practices. In addition, in the year to March 2022 the police recorded 472,067 offences of public fear, alarm or distress, an increase of 27% on the year to March 2021. Public fear, alarm or distress can be used by police to capture behaviours that do not meet the criteria required to formally be recognised as a harassment offence, for example when the behaviour happens once and not repeated. It is not possible from the data available to determine the type of harassment experienced, nor which offences were sexual in nature. The Home Office Counting Rules provide a national standard for the recording and counting of ‘notifiable’ offences recorded by police forces in England and Wales (known as ‘recorded crime’).</p><p> </p><p>We have taken a number of actions to tackle street sexual harassment. In September 2021 we launched the pilot StreetSafe tool enabling the public to report anonymously areas where they feel unsafe, so that local authorities and the police can take practical steps in response. Since October 2021, we have announced awards of £23.5 million to PCCs and local authorities under Round 3 of the Safer Streets Fund, followed by £50m to 100 projects in Round 4 of the Fund to make public spaces safer for everyone with many projects aiming to help women and girls feel safer on the streets. Furthermore, in December 2021 the College of Policing published a new guidance product for police officers, advising them how to respond to reports of public sexual harassment, and in August the CPS published updates to its legal guidance on public order offences to make clear to prosecutors how public order offences can be used to tackle public sexual harassment.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, in March 2022 we launched the ‘Enough’ communications campaign, which seeks to change public attitudes and tolerance towards crimes such as public sexual harassment.</p><p>In July we launched a targeted consultation on whether there should be a specific criminal offence of public sexual harassment. The consultation closed on 1 September and the Home Office is now in the process of analysing the responses.</p> answering member constituency Horsham answering member printed Jeremy Quin question first answered 21/09/2022 15:49:40 answering member 4507 label Biography information for Sir Jeremy Quin previous answer version 19179 answering member constituency Horsham answering member printed Jeremy Quin answering member 4507 label Biography information for Sir Jeremy Quin
tabling member	4523 label Biography information for Catherine West

1457865

registered interest
date	14/04/2022
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Sexual Harassment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her timeframe is for publishing the findings of the review into potential gaps in the law in respect of public sexual harassment, as set out in the Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy in July 2021.
tabling member constituency	Bristol East
tabling member printed	Kerry McCarthy
uin	153798
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/04/2022 answer text <p>Sexual harassment in public places is an appalling practice, which this Government is committed to tackling. Women and girls have the right to both be and feel safe on our streets.</p><p>As set out in the Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy, published last July, we have been looking carefully at where there may be gaps in existing law and how a specific offence for public sexual harassment could address those.</p><p>As a result of this work, last month we announced that by the summer recess we would launch a public consultation on whether there should be a new offence of public sexual harassment.</p><p>In the VAWG Strategy we also committed to non-legislative actions to help tackle this issue. Following this, in December the College of Policing published a new advice product for police officers, advising them about the preventative strategies and criminal offences which they can use to respond to reports of various different types of public sexual harassment, and the Crown Prosecution Service will soon be publishing an updated version of its legal guidance on public order offences, to include specific material on public sexual harassment.</p><p>In addition, on 1 March the Home Office launched the ‘Enough’ communications campaign, which seeks to change public attitudes and tolerance towards crimes such as public sexual harassment and help create an atmosphere in which women and girls can report such crimes to the police with confidence.</p> answering member constituency Redditch answering member printed Rachel Maclean question first answered 21/04/2022 15:04:06 answering member 4668 label Biography information for Rachel Maclean
tabling member	1491 label Biography information for Kerry McCarthy

1404853

registered interest
date	20/01/2022
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Sexual Harassment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to assess gaps in the existing legal framework regarding making public sexual harassment a specific criminal offence.
tabling member constituency	Cynon Valley
tabling member printed	Beth Winter
uin	108633
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/01/2022 answer text <p>Sexual harassment in public places is an appalling practice, which this Government is committed to tackling. Women and girls have the right to both be and feel safe on our streets.</p><p>As set out in the Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy, published last July, we are looking carefully at where there may be gaps in existing law and how a specific offence for public sexual harassment could address those. This includes paying close attention to the views and reports of campaigners in this area. We are also closely considering the recent comments of the Law Commission on this subject.</p><p>In addition, in order to tackle public sexual harassment:</p><ul><li>In September 2021, we launched the pilot of an online tool, StreetSafe, which enables the public to report anonymously areas where they feel unsafe and identify what about the location made them feel this way. The data is then used to inform local decision-making. Several thousand people have used the tool to date.</li><li>In October we announced awards of £23.5 million to Police and Crime Commissioners and local authorities under Round 3 of the Safer Streets Fund to make public spaces safer for everyone through projects to help women and girls feel safer on the streets.</li><li>In November we announced the results of our separate, £5 million Safety of Women at Night fund, funding interventions which focus on preventing violence against women and girls in public spaces at night, including in the night-time economy</li><li>In December the College of Policing published a new advice product for police officers, advising them about the preventative strategies and criminal offences which they can use to respond to reports of various different types of public sexual harassment.</li><li>The public communications campaign to which we committed in the Tackling VAWG Strategy will seek to change public attitudes and tolerance towards crimes such as public sexual harassment and help create an atmosphere in which women and girls can report such crimes to the police with confidence.</li></ul> answering member constituency Redditch answering member printed Rachel Maclean question first answered 28/01/2022 12:22:59 answering member 4668 label Biography information for Rachel Maclean
tabling member	4809 label Biography information for Beth Winter

1399193

registered interest
date	04/01/2022
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Sexual Harassment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if the Government will make public sexual harassment a specific criminal offence.
tabling member constituency	Putney
tabling member printed	Fleur Anderson
uin	97160
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/01/2022 answer text <p>Sexual harassment in public places is an appalling practice, which this Government is committed to tackling. Women and girls have the right to both be and feel safe on our streets.</p><p>As set out in the Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy, published last July, we are looking carefully at where there may be gaps in existing law and how a specific offence for public sexual harassment could address those.</p><p>In addition, in order to tackle public sexual harassment:</p><ul><li>In September 2021, we launched the pilot of an online tool, StreetSafe, which enables the public to report anonymously areas where they feel unsafe and identify what about the location made them feel this way. The data is then used to inform local decision-making. Several thousand people have used the tool to date.</li><li>In October we announced awards of £23.5 million to Police and Crime Commissioners and local authorities under Round 3 of the Safer Streets Fund to make public spaces safer for everyone through projects to help women and girls feel safer on the streets.</li><li>In November we announced the results of our separate, £5 million Safety of Women at Night fund, funding interventions which focus on preventing violence against women and girls in public spaces at night, including in the night-time economy.</li><li>In December the College of Policing published a new advice product for police officers, advising them about the preventative strategies and criminal offences which they can use to respond to reports of various different types of public sexual harassment.</li><li>The public communications campaign to which we committed in the Tackling VAWG Strategy will seek to change public attitudes and tolerance towards crimes such as public sexual harassment and help create an atmosphere in which women and girls can report such crimes to the police with confidence.</li></ul> answering member constituency Redditch answering member printed Rachel Maclean question first answered 12/01/2022 14:49:11 answering member 4668 label Biography information for Rachel Maclean
tabling member	4788 label Biography information for Fleur Anderson

1365441

registered interest
date	02/11/2021
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Sexual Harassment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to page 70 of the Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy, published in July 2021, what steps her Department is taking to identify gaps in existing legislation on public sexual harassment; and if she will set out the terms of reference for conducting such a review.
tabling member constituency	Battersea
tabling member printed	Marsha De Cordova
uin	68435
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/11/2021 answer text <p>Sexual harassment in public places is an appalling practice, which the Government is absolutely committed to tackling. It is not acceptable that so many women and girls do not feel safe on our streets as a result of this behaviour.</p><p>As set out in the Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy, the Government is looking carefully at where there may be gaps in existing law and how a specific offence for public sexual harassment could address those. This is a complex area, and it is important that we take the time to ensure that any potential legislation is proportionate and reasonably defined. We will publish updates on this work in due course.</p><p>The Tackling VAWG Strategy also sets out the non-legislative work which the Government is taking in this area. A national communications campaign will challenge this type of behaviour, and ensure victims know how and where to report it. We will ensure police and prosecutors are confident about how to respond to public sexual harassment, and as such the College of Policing will provide new guidance for police officers and the Crown Prosecution Service will update its legal guidance on public order offences to add specific information on public sexual harassment. And to prevent this behaviour from happening in the first place, we will deepen our understanding of who commits these crimes, why they do so, and how it may escalate, for example through our new funding for what works to tackle violence against women and girls.</p> answering member constituency Redditch answering member printed Rachel Maclean grouped question UIN 68436 68437 question first answered 10/11/2021 16:55:21 answering member 4668 label Biography information for Rachel Maclean
tabling member	4676 label Biography information for Marsha De Cordova

1365442

registered interest
date	02/11/2021
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Sexual Harassment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to page 70 of the Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy, published in July 2021, what her Department's timeframe is for reviewing where there may be gaps in existing legislation on public sexual harassment.
tabling member constituency	Battersea
tabling member printed	Marsha De Cordova
uin	68436
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/11/2021 answer text <p>Sexual harassment in public places is an appalling practice, which the Government is absolutely committed to tackling. It is not acceptable that so many women and girls do not feel safe on our streets as a result of this behaviour.</p><p>As set out in the Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy, the Government is looking carefully at where there may be gaps in existing law and how a specific offence for public sexual harassment could address those. This is a complex area, and it is important that we take the time to ensure that any potential legislation is proportionate and reasonably defined. We will publish updates on this work in due course.</p><p>The Tackling VAWG Strategy also sets out the non-legislative work which the Government is taking in this area. A national communications campaign will challenge this type of behaviour, and ensure victims know how and where to report it. We will ensure police and prosecutors are confident about how to respond to public sexual harassment, and as such the College of Policing will provide new guidance for police officers and the Crown Prosecution Service will update its legal guidance on public order offences to add specific information on public sexual harassment. And to prevent this behaviour from happening in the first place, we will deepen our understanding of who commits these crimes, why they do so, and how it may escalate, for example through our new funding for what works to tackle violence against women and girls.</p> answering member constituency Redditch answering member printed Rachel Maclean grouped question UIN 68435 68437 question first answered 10/11/2021 16:55:21 answering member 4668 label Biography information for Rachel Maclean
tabling member	4676 label Biography information for Marsha De Cordova