Preventing Public Sexual Harassment Bill

Supports the Bill, highlighting the existence of the StreetSafe service run by police to report unsafe areas and improve community safety.

Supports the Bill as a critical step towards addressing misogyny-driven hate crimes. Cites data showing 24,000 women experience public harassment daily, with minority communities disproportionately affected. Criticises societal normalization of such harassment and lack of accountability for perpetrators.

Intervened to emphasise the importance of proper resourcing for enforcement, crucial for the success of legislation addressing misogynistic hate crimes.

Acknowledged that while primarily affecting women, the Bill seeks to address cultural issues impacting all genders. Emphasised the need for a culture shift allowing victims of all genders to feel safe reporting such incidents.

Welcomes the Bill, highlighting its importance in addressing public sexual harassment. Mentions recent ONS data indicating that one in two women and one in six men feel unsafe walking alone after dark. Stresses that the Bill is not anti-men but pro-safety for all genders. Discusses government initiatives such as funding safer streets programmes and launching campaigns like 'Enough' to empower bystanders and change societal norms.

Intervenes to support the Bill, highlighting the importance of ensuring that public funding is used effectively to make all areas safe for women. Emphasises that women should not be held responsible for crimes occurring in poorly lit or unlit areas.

Intervenes to praise the government's advertising campaign and initiatives that empower bystanders to intervene safely. Highlights the importance of breaking harmful behaviours.

Calls for attention to be given to work being done in prisons to address perpetrators of sexual violence, suggesting that effective programmes should be supported.

Mr Cunningham highlights that his amendment aims to enhance accountability within NHS trusts by mandating quarterly financial reports. He raises concerns about the current lack of transparency and mentions several cases where delayed reporting led to significant financial losses.

Mr Hoyle interjects briefly to support Mr Cunningham's proposal, stressing the importance of effective governance in health care organisations. He notes that without stringent oversight mechanisms, public funds may be at risk.

Supports the Bill, citing personal experiences of public sexual harassment and statistics showing its prevalence among women. She emphasises the coalition of organisations backing the bill and highlights specific instances where existing legislation failed to address the issue adequately.

Supports the Bill and its aim to protect women and girls from harassment in public spaces. Argues that the issue of violence against women and girls should be tackled by addressing perpetrators rather than empowering victims with self-defence measures. Stresses the importance of taking action against those who perpetrate such crimes, highlighting the need for societal change.

Supports the Bill as it addresses long-standing issues affecting women, including street harassment and sexual misconduct. Argues that previous statements from politicians regarding criminalisation of such behaviour demonstrate women's second-class status before the law. Emphasises that women are victims while perpetrators need to be held accountable. Highlights the transformative impact on public opinion since 2019 and cites personal experiences of teenage girls being traumatised by unwanted attention. Calls for educational initiatives in schools targeting male students' understanding of female discomfort from inappropriate behaviour.

Supports the amendment, citing experiences of public sexual harassment among young girls in her constituency and highlighting the need for legal measures to address this issue. She also mentions community efforts such as marches and local initiatives like painting dark tunnels to make them safer.

Intervened to support Siobhan Baillie, agreeing that public sexual harassment can be a precursor to more serious crimes and emphasised the importance of stamping out such behaviour at its source.

Intervened to suggest adding a concept of 'foreseeable' intent to ensure that behaviour could be reasonably expected to cause distress, avoiding loopholes and ensuring progress.

Supports the Bill, citing persistent campaigning by young activists. Addresses concerns about creating a de minimis criminal offence and inconsistency in police response to public sexual harassment under existing laws. Emphasises the need for clear legal contours for women's rights and improved training for police officers. Highlights statistics from surveys indicating pervasive issues of women’s safety in public spaces, including incidents of sexual assault and harassment. Argues that the Bill is part of a broader effort to address violence against women and girls.

Mohindra supports the bill, citing personal experiences of intimidation on London's streets and the need for wider cultural awareness. He argues that current statistics underrepresent the issue as many women do not feel confident in reporting harassment. He also commends British Transport police's efforts to educate people on how to safely intervene.

Mumby-Croft supports the bill, highlighting the UN’s 16 days of activism against gender-based violence and the impact of street harassment on her constituents. She cites ONS data showing that one in two women feels unsafe walking home at night compared to one in six men. Mumby-Croft acknowledges that legislative change is part of a broader conversation needed with children, schools, colleges, universities, and workplaces.

Supports the Bill based on constituents' experiences and statistics showing high levels of sexual harassment. Emphasises the need for laws to protect women and girls from harassment in public spaces, citing 75% of girls experiencing unwanted sexual attention and over 30% receiving verbal harassment monthly.

Supports the Bill due to its importance in protecting women, girls, men, and boys from public sexual harassment. Acknowledges the disproportionate impact on the LGBT+ community and highlights the need for clearer legal definitions of sexual harassment.

Supports the Bill to address widespread sexual harassment, emphasising that it affects everyone and men need to change their behaviour. Advocates for a specific law with increased penalties to send messages to police, victims, and perpetrators about the seriousness of the issue.

Welcomes the Bill as an important step forward in protecting constituents from sexual harassment. Emphasises his personal experience with domestic abuse and women's safety, highlighting the need for more protective measures.

Praised the Bill introduced by her right hon. Friend and thanked parliamentarians from both sides for their efforts on the issue. Acknowledged the cross-party support for the bill, emphasising its importance in empowering victims to report harassment to the police without being dismissed. Emphasised the Government's focus on perpetrators and gathering evidence on them. Highlighted the work of police and crime commissioners and thanked specific MPs for their contributions.

Clark welcomes support from various parts of the House and organisations such as Soroptimists, highlighting the cultural shift needed to address public sexual harassment. He notes that making this a crime can provide victims with clarity on whether it's worth reporting abuse to the police, which can also deter potential perpetrators.