Deputy Chief Constable Lisa Winward has released a blog on the North Yorkshire Police website this week, announcing the forces decision to adapt their hate crime policy to include misogyny.
Echoing a move made by Nottinghamshire Police in July 2016, from later on this year North Yorkshire Police will recognise misogyny as a form of hate crime and over the coming months will be training officers in the recognition and prosecution of the offence.
The definition of the crime that the force 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.
Speaking about the inclusion of misogyny DCC Winward 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 and 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.
"We know through our work with the North Yorkshire Youth Commission that physical and verbal harassment is an issue that is of concern for young women in North Yorkshire, with some of them experiencing it first-hand. I think this makes our decision even more relevant in the fact that our younger generation are having to consider this matter, that in 2017 misogynistic behaviour is still something that women are experiencing.”
To read DCC Winward's blog go to https://northyorkshire.police.uk/news/misogyny-recognised-hate-crime/
