Police will be given stronger powers to combat public sexual harassment.
A new harassment offence will be introduced from Wednesday, covering intentional harassment directed at someone because of their sex, including obscene comments, threats of sexual violence and threatening invasions of personal space.
It applies in public places such as streets, parks, public transport, taxis and shops.
Offenders will face up to two years in prison under the new statutory guidance in England and Wales.
The government has declared violence against women and girls a national emergency and said it is using “the full power of the state” to tackle such crimes “with the seriousness they deserve, stepping in early to stop harassment escalating into more serious violence”.
It said it would work closely with police, frontline organisations and campaign groups to ensure the law is enforced “robustly”.
“The sad reality is that many women and girls have been cornered, leered at or shouted at in public, or have faced intimidating threats of violence,” said Jess Phillips, the minister for safeguarding and violence against women and girls.
“Too often they’ve been made to feel like it’s their problem to manage. That is not good enough.”
Ms Phillips added: “Instead of forcing women and girls to change their behaviour, we are going after those who choose to target and intimidate them.
“These new laws put the focus on perpetrators. If you harass someone in public because of their sex, it will not be tolerated and you can face a criminal record and up to two years behind bars.”
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Rose Caldwell, CEO of the charity Plan International UK, said: “Everyone deserves to move through public spaces without fear.
“For too long, girls and young women have been left alone to navigate harassment that chips away at their confidence, dignity and freedom. Today marks a long-overdue shift that will make a genuine difference to their lives.”
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Ms Caldwell continued: “As the Protection from Sex-Based Harassment in Public Act comes into force, we now have clear guidance that names these behaviours for what they are: illegal and unacceptable.
“Girls shouldn’t have to fear uninvited touching on public transport or accept that it’s ‘just the way things are’ when they get catcalled on the street.”
