VOICES OF THE FUTURE: Eloise Barry calls on the government to criminalise street harassment which is plaguing the lives of women

There has not been a single time since the start of the pandemic when 20-year-old Leeds student, Charlotte, has gone for a run without being subjected to sexual harassment.

“I’ve taken up running this semester as face-to-face teaching has been cancelled,” she says. “I go up to four times a week - every single time I receive creepy comments or get beeped at by cars. I feel like I’m running away from danger.”

Charlotte’s experience is shockingly common. According to polling by Plan International, 51 per cent of women in the UK aged between 14 and 21 have experienced public sexual harassment since June, including being catcalled, followed, flashed or upskirted.

Although the government recognised public sexual harassment as a form of gender-based violence last year, it has not yet been criminalised. 

In 2018, France became the first country to criminalise street harassment. During the eight-month period since the law was introduced, 447 on-the-spot fines were issued to perpetrators of unwanted “sexual or sexist” behaviour towards others in public spaces. Women’s charities, such as Plan International, are calling for the same powers to be introduced in the UK.

In 2019, Women’s Lives Leeds won funding for their programme to make Leeds the UK’s first ‘Women Friendly City’. The Leeds alliance of girls’ organisations are collaborating with Leeds City Council for the four-year project, to improve the safety, health and wellbeing of women in the city.

Without legislative backing from the government, however, the burden will fall on women to look out for their own safety.

In Leeds, grassroots movements have been reacting to the spike in sexual harassment around student areas in the city. In the past year, an alleyway linking Headingley to Burley has become notorious for incidents of sexual, physical and verbal abuse.

Dubbed ‘Assault Alley’ by many campaigners, the walkway is long and badly lit.

“It’s a hotspot,” explains Charlotte. “We know not to go down there alone.”

In October, a local events company, Fresh2Death, set up a GoFundMe page to cover the costs of a private security firm to patrol the alleyway between 6 and 11pm every night. The page has since received nearly £3,000 in donations.

Students have also decided to take matters into their own hands, launching a campaign titled ‘Reclaim Headingley Stadium Alleyway’. A protest was organised in late October to raise awareness of the issue. Of the 466 cases of violent and sexual offences reported in North West Leeds during August, 58 took place in Headingley, an area popular among students.

Criminalisation is essential to crack down on an issue plaguing the everyday lives of women across the UK. Given the impact of lockdowns throughout the pandemic, now, more than ever, women need to feel safe on the streets.