New Criminal Offences: Sex-Based Harassment in Public Act 2025
Summary
The Protection from Sex-Based Harassment in Public Act created a new criminal offence for sex-based harassment in public spaces, effective 1 April 2026. The legislation applies to conduct in streets, public transport, and other everyday settings, providing police with enhanced powers to address intentional harassment directed at individuals based on their sex. Convicted offenders face penalties of up to two years' imprisonment.
What changed
The Protection from Sex-Based Harassment in Public Act introduces a new criminal offence targeting intentional sex-based harassment in public spaces including streets, public transport, and everyday settings. The law came into force on 1 April 2026 and provides police with enhanced powers to address such conduct. The Government has issued statutory guidance to support consistent enforcement across England and Wales.
Affected organisations and employers should monitor how law enforcement agencies implement the new powers and ensure compliance with any statutory guidance issued. The legislation forms part of the Government's broader strategy to address violence against women and girls, which may have implications for workplace harassment policies and reporting procedures.
What to do next
- Monitor for enforcement guidance updates from police forces in England and Wales
- Review internal policies on harassment reporting and response procedures
Penalties
Up to two years' imprisonment for conviction under the new offence
Archived snapshot
Apr 15, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
Separately, a new criminal offence targeting sex-based harassment in public came into force on 1 April 2026 under the Protection from Sex-Based Harassment in Public Act. The law provides police with enhanced powers to address intentional harassment directed at individuals based on their sex, including conduct occurring in streets, public transport and other everyday settings.
Offenders convicted under the new offence face penalties of up to two years’ imprisonment. The legislation originated as a Private Members’ Bill introduced by Greg Clark and Lord Wolfson of Tredegar.
Jess Phillips, Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, said the law shifts the focus onto perpetrators, aiming to prevent harassment from escalating into more serious offences. The Government has also issued statutory guidance to support consistent enforcement across England and Wales.
The reforms have been welcomed by organisations including Plan International UK and Our Streets Now, which have long campaigned for stronger legal protections against public sexual harassment.
Both measures form part of the Government’s broader strategy to address violence against women and girls, which includes investment in victim services, reforms to family law provisions, and initiatives focused on prevention and early intervention.
Named provisions
Related changes
Get daily alerts for Inner Temple Library Current Awareness
Daily digest delivered to your inbox.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime.
About this page
Every important government, regulator, and court update from around the world. One place. Real-time. Free. Our mission
Source document text, dates, docket IDs, and authority are extracted directly from FamilyLaw.co.uk.
The summary, classification, recommended actions, deadlines, and penalty information are AI-generated from the original text and may contain errors. Always verify against the source document.
Classification
Who this affects
Taxonomy
Browse Categories
Get alerts for this source
We'll email you when Inner Temple Library Current Awareness publishes new changes.
Subscribed!
Optional. Filters your digest to exactly the updates that matter to you.