22 FEBRUARY 2019

Yesterday representatives from the Fawcett Society, Citizens UK and Women’s Aid, together with women who have lived experience of misogyny and violence, met with Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Cressida Dick CBE QPM and Chief Constable Sara Thornton CBE QPM, Chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council to discuss the issue of misogyny as a hate crime and the importance of tackling violence against women and girls. It was a constructive and wide-ranging discussion and we have agreed to keep in touch in the coming months as the Law Commission review into hate crime progresses.

Sam Smethers, Fawcett Society Chief Executive, said:

“It was helpful to have the opportunity to discuss the issue in detail with two of the most senior Police Officers in the country and reassure them of our commitment to their case for the need for resources to tackle violence against women and girls. Making misogyny a hate crime, in our view, would address the normalisation of gender-based violence our society and enable the police to address violent crimes against women and girls which currently go unreported.”

Aliya Akram, Citizens UK Leader, said:

"It was really powerful for me to share my story of how I've been affected by misogynistic hate crime to two of the most senior police officials, and explain to them why London should follow Nottingham's example and recognise misogyny as a hate crime.”

Sian Hawkins, Head of Campaigns and Public Affairs at Women’s Aid, said:

“We want to thank Cressida Dick and Sara Thornton for meeting with us today. We are pleased that they are both committed to tackling violence against women and girls. We want them to continue to work with us to improve the police response to these crimes to ensure that survivors have the confidence that they will be supported and protected when they report to the police. With a domestic abuse crime committed every minute, it is vital that the police have the resources they need to make effectively policing all forms of violence against women a reality.”

For more information, please contact Sanmeet Kaur, Policy and Public Affairs Officer, Fawcett Society at sanmeet.kaur[at]fawcettsociety.org.uk.