A police force has followed the example set by Notts Police in recognising misogyny as a hate crime.
In July 2016, Nottinghamshire Police announced they would be classing the harassment of women as a hate crime.
And North Yorkshire Police announced yesterday (Wednesday March 8) they are now doing the same.
At the time of the announcement by Nottinghamshire Police, then-Chief Constable Sue Fish said: “What women face, often on a daily basis, is absolutely unacceptable and can be extremely distressing.
“I’m delighted that we are leading the way towards tackling misogyny in all its forms to make Nottingham a safer place for all women.
“Nottinghamshire Police is committed to taking misogynistic hate crime seriously and encourages anyone who is affected by it to contact us without hesitation.”
The official definition of the crime that the forces will follow is: ‘any criminal offence which is perceived by the female victim or any other person, to be motivated by a hostility or prejudice based on her gender’.
It was reported last month that Nottinghamshire Police received over 80 misogyny hate crime reports against women since April 2016.
Video: The premiere of Notts Police’s misogyny hate crime awareness video
Nottinghamshire Police put out a video where women in Nottingham shared their experiences with misogyny in the city centre.
Deputy Chief Constable Lisa Winward for North Yorkshire Police thinks the video ‘puts the matter into perspective’.
She said: “The police already have the relevant laws in place to arrest and prosecute perpetrators of harassment or assault.
“But by including misogyny as a characteristic of hate crime – it gives a message out to women that this type of behaviour is not to be dismissed or trivialised.
“They can take confidence in the fact they will be listened to and taken seriously by the police and that support and advice is available to them.”
Lisa Winward wants this to ‘encourage women who are subject to harrassment simply because of their agenda’.
She said: “Unfortunately, the reality is we live in a world where some women have to take extra measures such as carrying rape alarms or avoiding certain routes, to avoid harassment or potential attack.
“The feeling of vulnerability is real for some women within our communities, the role of the police is to identify and protect those who are vulnerable.
“I hope that this move will encourage women who are subject to verbal and physical harassment simply because of their gender, to come forward and report it to us.”
Over the coming months North Yorkshire Police will be training officers in the recognition and prosecution of the offence.
