Nottinghamshire Police Classifies Misogyny as a Hate Crime

Nottinghamshire Police has become the first force in the United Kingdom to recognise misogyny as a hate crime, and will include everything from street harassment through to unwanted physical approaches.

I’m delighted that we are leading the way towards tackling misogyny in all its forms.

What women face, often on a daily basis, is absolutely unacceptable and can be extremely distressing.

- Nottinghamshire Police Chief Constable Sue Fish

The force defines misogynistic hate crime as "incidents against women that are motivated by an attitude of a man towards a woman, and includes behaviour targeted towards a woman by men simply because they are a woman". Examples such as unwanted sexual advances, physical assaults, verbal abuse or unwanted engagement, unwanted physical contact, the use of mobile devices to send unwanted or uninvited messages or take photographs without consent or permission.

We’re pleased to see Nottinghamshire Police recognise the breadth of violence and intimidation that women experience on a daily basis in our communities.

Understanding this as a hate crime will help people to see the seriousness of these incidents and hopefully encourage more women to come forward and report offences.

- Melanie Jeffs, Centre Manager at Nottingham Women's Centre

The force said that domestic abuse will not be included in the scope of misogynistic hate crime as there are separate procedures already in place to deal with this.

Editor's comment: Why has not organized sexual exploitation been classified as a hate crime?