Street Harassment campaign launched by H&F
As daylight hours shorten and night falls earlier each day, Hammersmith council says it is making the local streets feel safer for everyone by making street harassment an offence. New borough-wide restrictions prohibit unwanted verbal or physical attention in Hammersmith & Fulham that’s likely to make people feel harassed or unsafe.
H&F officers can issue fixed penalty notices to those who fail to comply with the restrictions. Anyone who doesn’t pay their fine could be taken to court and, if found guilty, pay up to £1,000. The new measures cover a range of behaviours, from catcalls, slurs and sexualised comments, to inappropriate gestures, following, and non-consensual physical contact.
“Our message is clear,” Cllr Rebecca Harvey, H&F Cabinet Member for Social Inclusion and Community Safety, said, “street harassment has no place in H&F. Everyone deserves to feel safe in our borough, whether they’re walking to work, enjoying a night out, or simply going about their day.”
“I am delighted for the police and local authority to have collaborated to produce this PSPO following consultation with the community,” Superintendent for H&F, Craig Knight, said. “As the first of its kind in London, it is designed to support improved safety, reduce harm to women and girls in public and set clear standards of acceptable behaviour across the borough.”
The new street harassment restrictions will be in effect for an initial three years across the whole borough.
To help introduce and enforce the new rules, H&F’s Law Enforcement Team (LET) have increased patrols around crime hotspots and main transport hubs during peak commute times and weekends.
Residents can help make H&F safer by sharing information about areas where they feel unsafe or have witnessed harassment.
Join H&F officers for a walkabout around town centres:
- Thursday, 26th Sept, 11am-1pm, Jerdan Place SW6
- Saturday, 12th Oct, 11am-1pm, Lyric Square W6
- Friday, 18th Oct, 11am-1pm, Lyric Square W6
- Thursday, 7th Nov, 2pm-4pm, Shepherds Bush tube station
