VICTIMS of misogyny are being urged to come forward as it becomes a hate crime in North Yorkshire.

North Yorkshire Police, following the lead of Nottinghamshire Police, is now the second force in the country which will classify unwanted sexual or verbal advances towards women as a hate crime in a bid to crack down on sexist abuse.

Police say the offence is not as simple as arresting men for catcalling or wolf-whistling at women, instead officers are now specially trained to assess whether crimes where women are the victim have taken place because of their gender.

A film was released on the North Yorkshire Police website to explain more about the change in law.

Deputy Chief Constable Lisa Winward said: “The women who appear in the film are representative of all the women we have spoken to throughout this process. Their experiences are proof that this behaviour is something that every woman has experienced and been affected by at some point in their lives.

“The misogynistic behaviour of some has made these women feel vulnerable and intimidated when going about their daily lives, just walking to work or going shopping. All of these incidents were completely unwanted and uninvited and resulted in the women changing their daily behaviour, re-planning their routes to work, questioning themselves about what they wear and taking steps to not to be victimised again, when it was never their fault in the first place.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Julia Mulligan said the change would help women and girls understand police will take their concerns seriously.

She said: “I do understand that some people may think this is an example of ‘political correctness gone mad’. However, I’d ask them to pause and think about the impact on the people bearing the brunt of such behaviour. It can’t be right that women and girls feel they have to change the way they dress, the routes that they walk and other day-to-day tasks that should be carried out without fear, worry or intimidation.”

DCC Winward said: “Hate in all its forms is wrong and North Yorkshire Police will take all the necessary steps to protect our communities and ensure the women and girls of our region feel safe to go about their daily business, without fear of being targeted simply because they are a woman.“I encourage all victims of all types of hate crime to come forward and report it, either to the police on 101 or to Stop Hate UK on 0800 1381625.

“You will be listened to and supported.”