London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 10, 2025

"Barbaric Practice": UK Could Make Street Harassment Of Women A Crime

"Barbaric Practice": UK Could Make Street Harassment Of Women A Crime

The government is pledging to improve legislation after the kidnap and murder of Sarah Everard, a young woman walking home in London, sparked widespread anger at women's lack of safety in public spaces.

Britain is considering making street harassment of women a crime, the interior minister said Wednesday, as the government was to publish new proposals to tackle violence against women and girls.

The government is pledging to improve legislation after the kidnap and murder of Sarah Everard, a young woman walking home in London, sparked widespread anger at women's lack of safety in public spaces.

Harassment such as wolf-whistling could become a specific crime, the Home Secretary Priti Patel said in a comment piece in The Times, as she was set to unveil proposals on ways to support women reporting public sexual harassment and crack down on male violence.

Patel wrote that the government was taking action on street harassment and would "continue to look at gaps in existing law and how an offence for sexual harassment could address those."

"I am committed to ensuring not only that the laws are there, but that they work in practice and women and girls are confident their concerns will be taken seriously," she said.

The murder of Everard, 33, who disappeared while walking home in London in March, by police officer Wayne Couzens "triggered a national conversation about these issues," Patel said, demonstrating "the need to support victims and do more to prevent these crimes".

'Barbaric practice'


The UK government and police have also faced harsh criticism as convictions for rape have fallen dramatically despite more women coming forward to report sexual attacks.

The government's proposals include the creation of a new national policing lead to tackle male violence against women as well as the appointment of two officials in charge of preventing violence against women and girls on public transport.

The strategy also calls for the criminalisation of so-called virginity testing, which Patel called a "barbaric practice".

Campaigners for the rights of women and girls criticised the proposals as not going far enough, however.

Rose Caldwell, chief executive of Plan International UK, a rights organisation, said she was "very disappointed" that the strategy does not already include a new law on public sexual harassment.

"We urge the Government to quickly deliver its promise to review gaps in the legislation -- and then it must commit to a new Public Sexual Harassment Law," she said.

Opposition politician Jess Phillips also called for more concrete action from the government.

"The services and support required to end violence against women and girls cannot run on warm words alone," said the Labour MP.

"The Government should step up to the plate."

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
×