Liz Truss has vowed to change the law to make street harassment a crime, months after a similar move was blocked by Boris Johnson.
The proposed new offense – one of a number of measures against violence against women announced by the Tory leadership contender on Wednesday – was at the center of a long-running campaign by opposition MPs and feminist campaigners, particularly after the murders of women including Sarah Everard, Sabina Nessa and Zara Aleyna.
Labor MP Stella Creasy, who previously sought to change the law to recognize misogyny in the criminal justice system, said it was a major U-turn from the Truss when the government had voted against previous plans.
Truss’s campaign announced on Wednesday that if she is elected prime minister, her administration will introduce “a stand-alone offense to criminalize street harassment, curb aggressive and misogynistic behaviour”.
“Over the past two years, our nation has been shocked by a number of high-profile murders of women, many of them here in London. It is the responsibility of all political leaders, including us in Westminster and the Mayor of London, to do more,” Truss said. “Violence against women and girls should not be inevitable. Women should be able to walk the streets without fear of harm, and perpetrators should expect to be punished.
A previous amendment in the House of Lords to make misogyny a hate crime was rejected by ministers in February, but Home Secretary Priti Patel promised the proposed crime of street harassment would be looked at.
Nimko Ali, an independent adviser to the Home Office, suggested at the time that Johnson had blocked any new legislation. She said there was “push back” and, when asked if it was from advisers to the prime minister, said it was “much closer”.
Creasy said he welcomed Truss’ announcement. “Recognizing how misogyny leads to crime against women is something we are calling for – and the government [has been] vote against – for a while, so this turnaround is welcome,” she said.
“Yet Liz Truss knows that the misogynistic harassment women face is not just on the street – we need a concerted approach across the criminal justice system, learning from those police forces who are already recording these crimes and giving an opportunity for our courts to punish those whose hatred of women means that they seek to harm them.
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Truss also pledged to introduce a national domestic violence register and ensure it covers all forms of domestic abuse, including coercive and controlling behavior and financial abuse.
The register aims to offer better protection to potential victims of domestic violence by requiring convicted offenders to inform the police of arrangements with new partners and their children, with severe penalties for failure to do so.
Police will also be given greater powers to share information between the sex offenders’ register and the new domestic violence register. Truss’ campaign said she would also explore ways to speed rape cases through the courts.
Rachel McLean, a former security minister who supports Truss, said: “Women and girls should be free to live their lives in safety and I know that as Prime Minister Liz will deliver stronger safeguards for victims of domestic violence. including flagging the most violent offenders.”
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