Ashfield District Council begins consultation on catcalling ban

The council said the proposed ban followed a survey of women and girls in the district

A council is proposing to use legal powers to ban catcalling in its area.

Ashfield District Council is planning to make it an offence under an existing public space protection order (PSPO), which is due to be renewed this year.

Residents can currently be fined £100 for anti-social use of alcohol and dogs, and urinating in public places.

Under the new PSPO, people would be liable for fines for a rude or unwelcome comment, which is often sexually suggestive.

The move by the council, in Nottinghamshire, follows a public safety survey in the district.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) said the council spoke to 141 women and girls, and 85% of them said they had taken some form of safety precaution when alone in public.

Addressing a cabinet meeting on Monday, John Wilmott - the council's executive leader for community safety and crime reduction - said: "There is nothing worse than a young girl walking down our high streets and being harassed.

"It has got to stop, and it will be stopped."

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The PSPO would also widen a ban on groups of vehicles creating a nuisance, such as revving engines, playing loud music and performing stunts like "doughnuts" or drifting.

It currently only applies to an area around junction 27 of the M1, where there have been previous problems with car meets. It is proposed to widen the order to cover the entire district.

There would also be a ban on promoting car cruising events on social media, the LDRS said.