Law enforcement officers in Rotterdam, Netherlands express doubts about the practicality of enforcing the newly enacted law against street sexual harassment, set to take effect on July 1st, NL Times reports.
The new law prohibits various forms of sexually intimidating or degrading behavior in public, such as verbal abuse or explicit sexual remarks. It categorizes street sexual harassment as a public order offense, allowing victims to file police reports or enabling police intervention without a formal complaint.
The police union ACP anticipates a surge in reports and charges due to the new law, which could strain resources already stretched thin. Municipal enforcement officers may also be tasked with enforcing the law, as Rotterdam plans to experiment with this approach starting July 1st. However, Richard Gerrits of the enforcement officers’ union, BOA Vakbond ACP, sees this as an added challenge amid their increasing workload.
Public prosecutor Judith van Schoonderwoerd acknowledges the complexity of prosecuting behaviors now criminalized by the law and emphasizes the need for sufficient evidence in each case. She highlights that criminal law alone cannot address the underlying social issue.
Despite implementation concerns, law enforcement acknowledges the importance of addressing street sexual harassment. However, they emphasize the need for practical frameworks to effectively combat this problem.
