A police force revealed today it has become Britain’s first to recognise misogyny as a hate crime.

Nottinghamshire Police is recording incidents such as street harassment, verbal abuse, unwanted physical approaches and taking photographs without consent within the hate crime definition.

It also includes using mobile phones to send unwanted messages, unwanted sexual advances and ‘unwanted or uninvited physical or verbal contact or engagement’, possibly including wolf whistling.

Wolf whistling: A police force will record incidents such as street harassment, verbal abuse, unwanted physical approaches and taking photographs without consent within the hate crime definition (file picture)

The force’s chief constable Sue Fish said: ‘I’m delighted that we are leading the way towards tackling misogyny in all its forms.

‘It’s a very important aspect of the overall hate crime work being conducted and one that will make Nottinghamshire a safer place for all women.

‘What women face, often on a daily basis, is absolutely unacceptable and can be extremely distressing. Nottinghamshire Police is committed to taking misogynistic hate crime seriously.’

The force has spent three months training officers and staff on misogyny hate crime, and said it covers ‘incidents against women that are motivated by an attitude of a man towards a woman’.

Police, who have been working with Nottingham Women’s Centre on the subject, added that the crime includes ‘behaviour targeted towards a woman by men simply because they are a woman’.

Partnership: Nottinghamshire Police chief constable Sue Fish (left) and Nottingham Women’s Centre manager Melanie Jeffs (right) have been working on the project to recognise misogyny as a hate crime

Patrol car: The force has spent three months training officers and staff on misogyny hate crime (file picture)

The NWC's centre manager Melanie Jeffs said: ‘We’re pleased to see Nottinghamshire Police recognise the breadth of violence and intimidation that women experience on a daily basis in our communities.

WHAT COULD BE INCLUDED UNDER MISOGYNY HATE CRIME? Incidents against women motivated by attitude of a man towards a woman

Unwanted/uninvited sexual advances

Physical or verbal assault

Unwanted/uninvited physical or verbal contact or engagement

Use of mobile devices to send unwanted or uninvited messages

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‘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.’

A force spokesman said: ‘Unwanted physical or verbal contact or engagement is defined as exactly that and so can cover wolf whistling and other similar types of contact. If the victim feels that this has happened because they are a woman then we will record it as a hate crime.

‘This doesn’t necessarily mean that a criminal offence has been committed, but means we will carry out risk assessments and offer support as we would to any victim of a hate crime.

‘“Hate crime” is the terminology used to record all incidents and crimes which the victim perceives to be motivated by prejudice. We take all reports of hate crimes extremely seriously.’

The spokesman added: ‘Domestic abuse is not included within the scope of misogyny hate crime in this procedure as it is dealt with comprehensively within its own procedure.’

In April, Poppy Smart, 23, reported a group of builders to West Mercia Police for wolf-whistling at her on her way to work in Worcester. The force said it was a matter for the men's employers.

And last September BBC reporter Sarah Teale had 'sexual obscenities' shouted at her by a passing man while she filmed a news report about sexual harassment in Nottingham city centre.

The common definition of a hate crime agreed by the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Crown Prosecution service is: ‘Any criminal offence which is perceived by the victim or any other person, to be motivated by hostility or prejudice based on a person’s race or perceived race; religion or perceived religion; sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation; disability or perceived disability and any crime motivated by hostility or prejudice against a person who is transgender or perceived to be transgender.’