What the UK's new sex-based harassment law means for festivals ,concerts and stadiums

The UK has introduced a significant new criminal offence aimed at tackling sex-based harassment in public spaces. For organisations responsible for large crowds—festivals, concerts, sports stadia, fan zones, and live events—this change has practical implications for crowd management, stewarding, reporting systems, and event safety planning.

What Changed?

What changed?

On 1 April 2026, the Protection from Sex-based Harassment in Public Act 2023 came into force. The legislation created a specific offence covering intentional harassment carried out in public because of a person’s sex. The offence is designed to address behaviours such as unwanted sexual comments, intimidation, following, persistent unwanted attention, and other conduct intended to cause alarm, distress, humiliation, or fear. Conviction can carry a sentence of up to two years’ imprisonment.

Landmark prosecution

The first conviction under the new law on 9 June 2026, David Stroud became the first person sentenced under the new offence. The case involved unwanted conduct towards a female passenger on a train and proceeded under section 4B of the Public Order Act 1986, as amended by the new legislation. The court imposed a community order, unpaid work, rehabilitation requirements, alcohol monitoring, and a five-year restraining order.

The importance of the case is not the severity of the sentence; it is the fact that prosecutors and courts are now actively using the new offence. For event operators, this signals that behaviours previously treated as lower-level misconduct may now attract a more specific criminal response.

Why this matters for crowd environments

Why this matters for crowds and crowded environments

Large events create conditions where harassment can occur: dense crowds, alcohol consumption, reduced personal space, queueing, transport hubs, and limited visibility. The new offence increases the importance of demonstrating that organisers have taken reasonable steps to prevent, identify, and respond to sex-based harassment.

Key risk areas include:

1. Ingress and egress routes

Queues, transport interchanges, and exit corridors are common locations for unwanted attention and intimidation.

2. Alcohol service areas

Bars and hospitality zones often present elevated risks due to crowd density and impaired judgement.

3. Viewing areas and standing terraces

Packed environments can make it difficult for victims to move away from unwanted conduct.

4. Transport hubs and car parks

Harassment frequently occurs at the edges of the event footprint, particularly during departure.

5. Online-to-offline escalation

Harassment that begins through social media or event apps can continue in person at the venue.

Practical Implications for Organisers

Update Policies and Training:

1. Review safeguarding, anti-harassment, and spectator conduct policies.

2. Train stewards, security staff, volunteers, and contractors on recognising sex-based harassment and appropriate intervention.

3. Ensure incident logs distinguish between general disorder and sex-based harassment allegations.

Improve reporting pathways:

1. Provide clear, visible ways for attendees to report concerns.

2. Offer discreet reporting options via SMS, apps, QR codes, or welfare points.

3. Communicate that harassment will be acted upon and may be referred to police.

Strengthen welfare and safeguarding:

1. Maintain appropriately staffed welfare and safe-space facilities.

2. Ensure rapid escalation routes between welfare teams, security, and police liaison officers.

3. Record outcomes and follow-up actions where possible.

Review risk assessments:

1. Include sex-based harassment as a specific hazard in crowd safety and event risk assessments.

2. Consider hotspot mapping using historical incident data.

3. Assess staffing levels in known high-risk zones.

Takeaway

This is not just a legal issue—it is a crowd safety issue.

The new offence reinforces the expectation that public venues take harassment seriously, respond promptly, and create environments where attendees can seek help safely. Festivals, concerts, and stadium operators should treat this as part of their broader duty to manage crowd welfare, protect vulnerable attendees, and reduce preventable harm.

This article is intended as general information and not legal advice. Event organisers should seek professional legal advice when updating policies or responding to specific incidents.

Sources: UK Government announcements on the Protection from Sex-based Harassment in Public Act 2023 coming into force on 1 April 2026; Sentencing Council guidance on harassment and stalking offences; and reporting on the June 2026 conviction of David Stroud as the first person sentenced under the new offence.