Following feedback from local residents, we're introducing a public spaces protection order (PSPO) prohibiting street harassment, across the whole borough.
The new PSPO will help to reduce incidents of antisocial behaviour and improve the safety for all those who work, live or visit the borough.
What are the restrictions?
No person shall direct unwanted verbal or physical attention, including attention of a sexual nature, at a person or group where that attention is likely to make people feel harassed or unsafe.
Such attention includes – but is not limited to:
- Sexualised comments, propositions or gesture
- Persistent questioning
- Following someone
- Sexist, homophobic, or transphobic slurs
- Flashing or exposing intimate body parts
- Non-consensual physical contact
- Whistling or catcalling
Why are these restrictions necessary?
Ninety-seven per cent of women aged 18 to 24 years old have been sexually harassed in the UK. In line with the council's Ending Violence against Women and Girls Strategy, no one should be made to feel upset, unsafe or offended through experiencing this type of behaviour.
The PSPO aims to improve the safety all of H&F residents and visitors by tackling harassment in our streets or public places.
What happens if you fail to comply with this order?
The Street Harassment PSPO will be implemented for a period of three years, across the whole borough.
Law Enforcement Officers or other authorised enforcement partners such as a Police Constable or Police Community Support Officer, may issue a fixed penalty notice (FPN) of up to £100 to those who fail to comply with the Order. This will reduce to £60 if paid within 10 days.
Any person who fails without reasonable excuse to comply with any of the requirements of the PSPO may be liable on summary conviction to a fine of up to £1,000.
Call it out – how you can help
Everyone has a part to play in stopping harassment. The behaviour above may seem small, but they all are warning signs of misogyny and more serious sexual offences potentially occurring.
There are easy steps you can take to stop the offence from occurring and letting the perpetrator know their behaviour is unacceptable.
Here is how you can safely call out sexual harassment:
Distract: Take an indirect approach to de-escalate the situation
Delegate: Get help from someone else and find someone in position of authority
Document: It can be helpful for the person to have a details of the perpetrator if they want to report?
Delay: After the incident, check in with the person who is being harassed, see if they're okay or require any support.
Direct: Assess your safety first, speak up about the harassment, be firm and clear.
Check out the London Mayoral's campaign – 'Have a word' for more information or the Suzy Lamplugh Trust for free one hour training sessions on Bystander Intervention.
How to report
To report PSPO breaches contact:
Law Enforcement Team
020 8753 1100 and select option 3 (this phone number is not a dedicated number solely for PSPO breaches)
let.hf@lbhf.gov.uk
To report a crime, contact the police on 999 (emergency) or 101 (non-emergency) or via the online reporting tool. You can also anonymously share information on public places where you have felt or feel unsafe through the Street Safe Pilot.
View the full order
Street harassment PSPO order text version
London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham
Community Safety Unit
W6 9JU
Tel: 020 8753 2816
Email: csu@lbhf.gov.uk
Web: www.lbhf.gov.uk
Public Spaces Protection Order
Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014
London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham Harassment Public Spaces Protection Order 2024
The Council is satisfied that the two conditions below have been met, in that -
i. activities carried on in the restricted area as described below have had a detrimntal effect on the quality of life of those in the locality, or it is likely that these activities will be carried on in a public place and they will such an effect;
ii. the effect, or likely effect, of the activities is, or is likely to be, of a persistent or continuing nature, is, or is likely to be, such as to make the activities unreasonable, and justifies the restrictions imposed by the Order.
The Council of the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham, in exercise of its powers under sections 59 and 72 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 ("the Act") and all other enabling powers, hereby makes the following order:
- This Order comes into force on 11 November 2024 and ends on 11 November 2027 unless extended by further Orders under the Council's statutory powers. The PSPO will remain in place for a maximum term of 3 years, subject to any variation or extension.
- This Order applies to all public spaces. This means areas of land which the public are entitled or permitted to have access (with or without payment) within the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham.
- The Order imposes that:
No person shall direct verbal or physical attention, including attention of a sexual nature, at or towards a person or group of persons where that attention is likely to cause a person or persons present harassment, alarm or distress or is likely to undermine their sense of safety in a public place.
Such attention includes – but is not limited to:
- Unsolicited sexualised or obscene comments, propositions or gestures
- Persistent questioning
- Following someone
- Sexist, homophobic or transphobic slurs
- Flashing or exposing intimate body parts
- Non-consensual physical contact
- Whistling or catcalling.
Penalty
Any person who fails without reasonable excuse to comply with any of the requirements in this Order shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 (currently £1,000) on the standard scale.
Fixed Penalty
Police Officers, Police community Support Officers, the council's Law Enforcement Officers and other authorised personnel can issue Fixed Penalty Notices (FPN) to people who fail to comply with any of the requirements in this order. A person committing an offence will have 14 days to pay the fixed penalty of £100 (or £60 if paid within 7 days), failing which they may be prosecuted.
Appeals
Any challenge to this Order must be made at the High Court by an interested person within 6 weeks of it being made. An interested person is someone who lives in, regularly works in or visits the restricted area. This means that only those who are directly affected by the restrictions have the right to challenge. The right to challenge also exists where an order is varied by the Council.
Interested persons can challenge the validity of the Order on two grounds: that the Council did not have the power to make the Order or to include particular prohibitions or requirements; or that one of the requirements of the legislation, for instance consultation, has not been complied with.
When an application is made, the High Court can decide to suspend the operation of the Order pending the Court's decision, in part or in whole. The High Court can uphold, quash or vary the Order.
X Craig Knight, Superintendent, Metropolitan Police
X Neil Thurlow, Assistant Director of Community Safety