http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1986/64/section/4BPublic Order Act 1986An Act to abolish the common law offences of riot, rout, unlawful assembly and affray and certain statutory offences relating to public order; to create new offences relating to public order; to control public processions and assemblies; to control the stirring up of racial hatred; to provide for the exclusion of certain offenders from sporting events; to create a new offence relating to the contamination of or interference with goods; to confer power to direct certain trespassers to leave land; to amend section 7 of the Conspiracy and Protection of Property Act 1875, section 1 of the Prevention of Crime Act 1953, Part V of the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1980 and the Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol etc.) Act 1985; to repeal certain obsolete or unnecessary enactments; and for connected purposes.1986-11-07texttext/xmlenStatute Law Database2026-07-03Expert Participation2026-06-29 Part I4B1A person (A) is guilty of an offence under this section if—aA commits an offence under section 4A (intentional harassment, alarm or distress), andbA carried out the conduct referred to in section 4A(1) because of the relevant person’s sex (or presumed sex).2In subsection (1)—“presumed” means presumed by A;“the relevant person” means the person to whom A intended to cause harassment, alarm or distress.3For the purposes of subsection (1)(b) it does not matter whether or not—aA also carried out the conduct referred to in section 4A(1) because of any other factor not mentioned in subsection (1)(b), orbA carried out the conduct referred to in section 4A(1) for the purposes of sexual gratification.4A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable—aon summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding the general limit in a magistrates’ court or a fine or both;bon conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or a fine or both.5If, on the trial on indictment of a person charged with an offence under this section, the jury find the person not guilty of the offence charged, they may find the person guilty of the offence in section 4A.S. 4B inserted (E.W.) (1.4.2026) by Protection from Sex-based Harassment in Public Act 2023 (c. 47), ss. 1, 4(3); S.I. 2026/344, reg. 2(a)