Street harassment and groping: what counts and how to report

Key rules

• Groping: Touching someone sexually without consent is a crime, not just rude behaviour.
• Catcalling: Only some street harassment is a crime, and a judge decides case by case.
• Helpline: 016 is the free, confidential helpline for gender-based violence, open 24 hours in many languages.
• Venues: Ask for Angela and Punto Violeta stands are voluntary local schemes, so check the venue.
• Interpreter: If you do not speak Spanish, you have the right to a free interpreter when you report.

What is a crime and what is not

Groping is a crime in Spain. Any sexual act without your consent counts as sexual assault (agresión sexual). Consent exists only if you clearly showed your will freely. Groping is normally treated as sexual assault at the lower end of the scale, which carries prison. Very minor touching can sometimes be treated as a minor offence instead.

Street harassment (acoso callejero) is treated more narrowly. Degrading or insulting sexual behaviour that creates a humiliating, hostile or intimidating situation can be a minor offence (delito leve), punished by a fine or community work. This covers some catcalling. An isolated remark may not be a crime at all, and a judge decides each case. The police can only pursue the minor offence if you file a complaint.

If someone keeps following or pestering you, that can amount to stalking, which is more serious. Some regions and cities also fine street harassment administratively.

Sexual harassment at work, school or in a service setting (acoso sexual) is a separate offence. It involves requests for sexual favours and carries prison or a fine.

What to do in the moment

Get to a safe place first. Call 112 if you are in danger. For advice, call 016. It is free, confidential, open 24 hours and works in many languages.

The checklist below gives the step-by-step options for bars, festivals, doctors and police stations.

What bars, clubs and events do

No national law sets one specific duty for bars and clubs when harassment is reported. General rules still apply: staff who witness a crime should call the police. Some regions and cities require or promote protocols, training and posters, so rules vary by place. In practice, a good venue separates the people involved, helps you, calls the police and keeps camera footage. You can ask for all of that.

"Ask for Angela" (Pide por Angela) is a code phrase. You tell the staff you want Angela, and trained staff take you somewhere safe and offer a taxi or the police. It is voluntary and runs through local and regional schemes, so not every venue takes part.

A Punto Violeta is a staffed stand at festivals, fiestas and concerts. Staff listen, give support, can call the police or medical help and can record the incident. Using it is voluntary and confidential. Whether one exists depends on the event and the town hall.

How to report

You can report at any time of day at:

• a Policía Nacional or Guardia Civil station
• a Mossos d'Esquadra or Ertzaintza station, in their regions
• a duty court (juzgado de guardia)

If you are injured, see a doctor or hospital. They send a medical report to the court. Some police forces let you start a report online, but you generally have to confirm it in person.

Minor offences have a one-year limitation period, so report soon. Sexual assault has longer limits.

You have the right to a free interpreter and key information translated when you report and in court. Police stations in main tourist cities may have a service for foreign visitors. Which languages are available at a given station varies, so say at the start what language you need.

Support is available from victim assistance offices, municipal women's services and, in many regions, crisis centres for sexual violence. Victims of sexual violence get a free lawyer.

Checklist

If you are harassed or groped

• Move to a safe place and call 112 if you are in danger or need urgent help.

• Call 016 for free, confidential advice on violence against women, in many languages, at any hour. It does not appear on the phone bill.

• In a bar or club, go to the staff and ask for 'Angela' (Pide por Angela) if the venue takes part in a local scheme.

• At a festival or concert, look for a Punto Violeta (purple point) stand. Trained staff listen, call the police or medical help if you want, and can take a record of what happened.

• Ask the venue to keep any camera footage and to separate you from the person involved.

• Go to a doctor or hospital if you are injured, so a medical report goes to the court.

• File a report at any Policía Nacional or Guardia Civil station, at a Mossos d'Esquadra or Ertzaintza station in their regions, or at the duty court (juzgado de guardia). You can do this at any time of day.

• Finish any online pre-report in person at a station, because it generally has to be confirmed there.

• Report verbal street harassment yourself, because it is prosecuted only on your complaint. Do not wait too long: minor offences (delitos leves) have a limitation period of 1 year.

• Ask for a free lawyer if you suffered sexual violence, and contact a crisis centre, a victim assistance office or your municipal women's service for support.

What to watch out for

What to watch out for

• Groping is a crime, not just rude behaviour: Any sexual act without consent, including groping, counts as sexual assault (agresión sexual). Basic cases carry 1 to 4 years in prison, and 2 to 8 years where there is violence or intimidation. Rape carries 4 to 12 years. Very minor touching may sometimes be treated as a minor offence. Do not treat groping as something to let go. Report it at a police station or court, and get medical help if you are hurt.

• Catcalling is only sometimes a crime: Insulting or degrading sexual behaviour that creates a humiliating, hostile or intimidating situation is a minor offence (delito leve), punished by a fine or community work. A single remark may not be a crime at all, and some regions and cities also fine street harassment. Persistent behaviour can amount to stalking. Note what was said, when and where, and any witnesses. Make the complaint yourself, since police cannot pursue this offence without it.

• Sexual harassment at work or school is treated separately: Asking for sexual favours in a work, teaching or service setting is sexual harassment (acoso sexual), which can bring a prison term or a fine, and more for abuse of a position of power or a vulnerable victim. Report it to the police and keep messages or other proof of the requests.

• Ask for Angela is not guaranteed: The Ask for Angela scheme is voluntary and run locally. No national law makes every bar or club take part, so staff may not know the phrase. If staff do not respond, say plainly that you feel unsafe and ask them to call the police, or call 112 yourself.

Quick answers on venue safety protocols and nights out

What is a Punto Violeta and what happens when you go to one?

A Punto Violeta (purple point) is a support stand at festivals, fiestas and concerts where you can report or ask for help with sexist or sexual aggression. Trained staff or volunteers listen, give support, and can call the police or medical help. Using it is voluntary and confidential, and not every event has one.

How does Ask for Angela work in a bar or club?

You go to the bar staff and ask for "Angela", and staff take you somewhere safe and offer to call a taxi or the police. Some venues put a poster in the toilets. It is voluntary and only works in venues that joined a local or regional scheme.

Is Ask for Angela mandatory for bars and clubs in Spain?

No, Ask for Angela is not required by national law, but some regional rules encourage or require protocols in certain venues. Whether your venue takes part depends on the city and region.

What must a bar or club do when harassment is reported inside?

No single national law sets a specific duty for bars and clubs on harassment reports, but staff who see a crime should call the police. In practice, a good venue separates the people involved, helps the victim, calls the police and keeps camera footage. Some regions and cities add their own rules.

Are drink-testing kits legal and can you rely on them?

Yes, drink-testing strips, coasters and stickers are legal to buy in Spain, but you cannot rely on them. They detect only some substances, can give false results and are not accepted as proof. A hospital blood or urine test is the valid evidence, and urine should be taken as soon as possible.

Schemes and venue rules differ by city and region, so check locally what your venue or event offers.