WOLF whistling will not be reclassified as a hate crime in North Yorkshire.

Earlier this month, Nottinghamshire Police began to classify unwanted sexual or verbal advances to women, including catcalling and wolf whistling, as hate crimes, in a move to tackle sexist abuse.

Chief Constable Sue Fish, of Nottinghamshire Police, said the changes to their classification were meant “to give women the confidence to report misogynistic hate crime”, and “educate everyone about the impact that this sort of behaviour can have on people”.

Chief Con Fish said: “Misogynistic hate crime can cause significant distress to women, who have been known to face threats and in some cases sexual or physical abuse for turning down propositions.

"We do not think it is acceptable for men to grope women in nightclubs, or for men to shout sexually explicit comments about what they want to do to a woman.”

Chief Inspector Nick Hunter, North Yorkshire Police lead for hate crime, said people in North Yorkshire should still report any incidents which make them feel uncomfortable, but the force would consider such vocal incidents as harassment, rather than a hate crime.

Chief Insp Hunter said: “Hate crime is recognised as a criminal offence which is perceived by the victim or any other person, to be motivated by a hostility or prejudice based on a person’s disability, race, religion, sexual orientation or transgender.

“Nobody should be targeted with hate or abuse for any reason, whether it be for their gender or appearance. Hate crime and harassment have no place in our society and North Yorkshire Police take reports of both crimes very seriously.”

- Anyone who is a victim of hate crime or has suffered any form of harassment is encouraged to report it to North Yorkshire Police on 101.