An English police force is going re-educate all of its officers after re-defining “hate crime” to include acts of misogyny.
North Yorkshire Police said it will retrain about 1,400 serving officers so that they know to treat women as a new class of victim, mimicking recent changes at other forces.
The new definition means that suspects can face harsher prison sentences for any offence the victim (or “any other person”) thinks took place because they are female.
Previously the “hate crime” category was mainly devoted to racial and religious incidents, or abuse of disabled people.
The redefinition was announced by North Yorkshire’s deputy chief constable in a blog written yesterday. Lisa Winward said:
Yes, 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…
That’s why North Yorkshire Police are currently taking the steps to add misogyny into its hate crime policy. In the coming months we will be looking to educate our front line officers in the recognition of the offence and the support available for victims.
In Nottinghamshire, the first UK force to make the change, senior officers warned that misdemeanours as trivial as sending a woman an unwanted text message could be cause for police intervention.
Potential examples of hate crime also include “unwanted verbal contact” and “sexual advances”.
UK hate crime legislation has been put to risible use in recent months. On one occasion a political speech by the Home Secretary Amber Rudd, suggesting curbs on immigration, was recorded by officers as a “hate incident”.
The increased attention to hate crime also comes as funding for traditional police activity is under pressure.
One force temporarily stopped attending all attempted burglaries at even-numbered houses in a bid to save money.
Around the same time, members of the public were told they should not expect police to come to their house if they get robbed.
Heat Street asked North Yorkshire Police what the cost of anti-misogyny training for its officers would be, and whether there was any evidence to support the change.
The force has yet to respond.
