There are few ordinances or policies that address sexual harassment and even fewer that are enforced, so I am fascinated to hear about a city ordinance in Carlisle, UK, that plays out like this when it’s enforced:
“A man who made sexually offensive remarks to a woman at a Carlisle bus stop has been banned from approaching any lone women on the street for the next ten years.
The unusual order was passed on 56-year-old David Delahunty at the city’s Crown Court today (THURS) as part of his punishment for kissing a woman on the cheek after making insulting sexual suggestions to her at a bus stop.”
And more:
“For the court order – imposed after Delahunty pleaded guilty to a charge of sexual assault – bans him for the next ten years from approaching or speaking to ‘any lone female not known to him in a public place’ except in an emergency.
The court heard the woman, who was in her 20s, was waiting for a bus in West Tower Street on November 26 last year when Delahunty came up, made suggestive comments and kissed her on the cheek.
He even frightened her by claiming – falsely – that he had just been released prison after serving a sentence for rape.”
I’m not sure how enforceable the punishment is, but I like the idea — threatening someone on the street is serious and makes people feel unsafe in their community and it should be dealt with seriously.
Thoughts?
Thanks to reader Kate for the news tip.
Sue H says
I think this is enforceable to an extent. Not that the police will be keeping an eye on Delahunty, but that if he makes another such attack which is reported he’ll find himself back in court and facing a stiffer sentence. At the very least it sends a very clear message that such behaviour is unacceptable and all credit to the woman involved for seeing the case through.