The government has announced that public sexual harassment could become a criminal act and will be punishable by up to two years in prison.

Plans supported by the Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, would make it illegal to catcall, follow, and block someone's path in England.

Braverman stated - "Every woman should feel safe to walk our streets.

She continued - "We are putting the needs of victims at the heart of our decision, which will mean the criminals who commit these acts face the consequences they deserve".

While sexual harassment is already illegal, it's hoped that by creating a new offence that people will be encouraged to report incidents to the police.

This proposed law follows shortly after the murder of Sarah Everard who was abducted and killed by a policeman, Wayne Couzens.

Six months later, Sabina Nessa was murdered by a South London man.

A YouGov poll for the BBC released in March found that two-thirds of women did not feel comfortable travelling alone at night at least some of the time.

According to the Crown Prosecution Service, females under the age of 34 are the most likely to be the victims of sexual offences yet the least likely to report them (CPS).

As it now stands, the law will also impose stiffer penalties, raising the maximum term from six months to two years.Campaigners have also campaigned for the criminalisation of wolf-whistling and gazing intensely.Priti Patel, the then-home secretary, launched a survey in July on making street harassment a distinct offence. The Home Office has now judged that it should be implemented since "the significant majority" of respondents supported it.