73-year-old arrested on suspicion of harassment in Basingstoke
Police made arrest using new legislation
A 73-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of a new sexual harassment offence following a report of inappropriate behaviour in Basingstoke town centre.
It comes after Police received a report that a man had made sexualised comments to a woman who was working at a store in The Malls on Wednesday 13 May.
The man’s behaviour made the woman feel distressed and nervous.
A 73-year-old man from Basingstoke was arrested on suspicion of a sexual harassment offence under section 4B of the Public Order Act 1986. This new legislation was introduced on 1 April 2026 to create a new criminal offence targeting sex-based harassment.
The man has since been bailed with strict conditions, to allow for further enquiries to be carried out.