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Written question asked by Baroness Falkner of Margravine (Crossbench) on Monday, 9 March 2026, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Monday, 23 March 2026. It was answered by Lord Hanson of Flint (Labour) on Monday, 23 March 2026 on behalf of the Home Office.


Sexual Harassment

Question

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hanson of Flint on 2 October 2025 (HL10716), when they intend to publish the statutory guidance to accompany the Protection from Sex-based Harassment in Public Act 2023.

Answer

Public sexual harassment is a crime that often leaves victims, who are disproportionately likely to be women, feeling very unsafe. That is why tackling it is an important part of our mission on VAWG.

The “Freedom from Violence and Abuse: a cross-government strategy to build a safer society for women and girls”, published on 18th December 2025, committed to commence the Protection from Sex-Based Harassment in Public Act 2023 on 1 April 2026. This includes publication of the statutory guidance for police on the same day, which is a requirement of Section 2 of the Act. We are working directly with policing to ensure everything in is in place to support them in enforcing the aggravated offence from 1 April 2026.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL15317
Session
2024-26
Related items
Sexual Harassment
Thursday, 2 October 2025
Written questions
House of Lords
Subjects
Sexual harassment
Legislation
Protection from Sex-based Harassment in Public Act 2023
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk