Petition · past parliament
Make catcalling and gender-based street harassment illegal in the UK
Rejected
13 signatures
What the petition asks
The Anti-Harassment Club defines street harassment as any unwanted behaviour of a sexual nature, whether implicit or explicit, forced on a stranger in a public place without their consent.
UK law must change. Street harassment must be recognised as the pervasive violation of human rights it is.
UK law must change. Street harassment must be recognised as the pervasive violation of human rights it is.
YouGov found that 64% of women of all ages have experienced unwanted sexual harassment in public places. This increases to 85% of girls aged 18-24 with 45% of those experiencing unwanted sexual touching. Only 11% of women said anyone had intervened though 81% said they wished someone had (2016).
The police should be intervening. In recent years France, Belgium, Portugal, Peru and New Zealand have all implemented new laws to criminalise street harassment. The UK is falling behind.
The police should be intervening. In recent years France, Belgium, Portugal, Peru and New Zealand have all implemented new laws to criminalise street harassment. The UK is falling behind.
Why it was rejected
There was already a petition about this issue. Duplicates are rejected so signatures collect in one place.
Timeline
| 8 Jul 2020 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 16 Sep 2020 | Rejected by the Petitions Committee |
Key facts
Signatures
13
Status
Rejected
Rejected
16 Sep 2020
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.