Fines for catcalling introduced by council

Deputy leader of Ashfield District Council Helen-Ann Smith said the powers would help people feel safer

New powers to protect women and girls are set to be introduced in a part of Nottinghamshire.

Ashfield District Council approved a new public spaces protection order (PSPO) on Monday.

The three-year plan tackles anti-social behaviour ranging from alcohol use to controlling dogs and public urination.

New rules over street harassment have been included which will allow the council's officers to issue fines and take repeat offenders to court.

Councillor Helen-Ann Smith said: "It was unanimously agreed to add this into our PSPO.

"It's another layer giving the council powers to deal with it. We all know the police are really busy.

"It makes people feel unsafe, it's embarrassing for people.

"I want people to feel free to wear what they want and be safe and happy walking along the streets of Ashfield."

'Mental impacts'

Nottinghamshire Police figures show 55 women reported being harassed or stalked in public spaces in Ashfield between January and May 2024.

And campaigners said this was likely to be the tip of the iceberg.

In the 2023 Ashfield annual survey, which was filled in by almost 400 people, almost half of women said they had experienced catcalling.

More than a third had been verbally abused or had their personal space invaded, and more than a quarter said they had been followed.

Carys Savage, from the Feminist Society at Nottingham Trent University, said: "It's kind of turned into a social norm - you hear it, you experience it, you roll your eyes, you get over it and don't really report it.

"I've never felt the need to report it as there was no physical harm done but I think the mental impacts are just as detrimental."

The PSPO, which comes into force from 1 October, has also seen the council's powers to tackle nuisance vehicle use, such as car cruising, expanded from the area around junction 27 of the M1 to the entire district.