Street harassment has been made an offence in Hammersmith and Fulham, with new restrictions and fines of up to £1000.
The borough is now covered by a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) which allows law enforcement officers to issue fixed penalty notices of up to £1000 to people who do not comply with restrictions prohibiting unwanted verbal or physical attention that is likely to make others feel harassed or unsafe.
These restrictions include catcalling, slurs, sexualised comments, inappropriate gestures, non-consensual physical contact and following people in the street.
Councillor Rebecca Harvey said: “Our message is clear – street harassment has no place in Hammersmith and Fulham.
“Everyone deserves to feel safe in our borough, whether they’re walking to work, enjoying a night out, or simply going about their day.”
Borough resident Roberta Dedgjonaj, 23, said: “I think that it is really good, a step in the right direction – but who is going to regulate it and actually make it happen.”
Members of the public who want to speak with the Law Enforcement Team about harassment hotspots can join officers on ‘walkabouts’ in town centres, starting tomorrow.
The team has 72 uniformed members who have completed specialist violence against women and girls training and said they are increasing patrols in areas with high crime rates and around transport hubs at peak times.
Superintendent for Hammersmith and Fulham Craig Knight, said: “I am delighted for the police and local authority to have collaborated to produce this PSPO following consultation with the community.”
The consultation included a survey earlier this year where more than half of respondents said they had recently witnessed harassment in public.
Hammersmith and Fulham council will announce more measures to eradicate street harassment including further collaborations with football clubs.
Superintendent Knight said: “As the first of its kind in London, it is designed to support improved safety and reduce harm to women and girls in public.”
PSPOs have been used by other councils to ban catcalling and Redbridge Council became the first London council to fine a catcaller in December 2022.
Anyone who has experienced street harassment in the borough or wants to highlight areas where they feel unsafe can submit a report to the council’s ‘Have Your Say’ page.
Residents can also meet with officers to show them locations of concern by calling call 020 8753 1100 and select option 3 or emailing [email protected].
Featured image by Victor Cudjoe via Unsplash.
