Overview of the Bill
1 Section 4A of the Public Order Act 1986 1 makes it an offence to use threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, or disorderly behaviour, or to display any writing, sign or other visible representation which is threatening, abusive or insulting, if both the intention and the effect of the behaviour or the display is to cause another person harassment, alarm or distress. A person convicted under this offence is liable to imprisonment for up to six months, a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, or both.
2 This Bill provides that if a person commits an offence under section 4A of the Public Order Act 1986 and carried out the conduct in question because of the sex of the person to whom they intended to cause harassment, alarm or distress, then that person is guilty of an offence, whose maximum sentence is, on summary conviction, imprisonment for a term not exceeding the general limit in a magistrates’ court, a fine or both, or, on conviction on indictment, imprisonment for up to two years, a fine or both.