OFFENCES of misogyny in Dorset are unlikely to be treated as a hate crime by the county’s police.

The response comes after a question to the county’s police and crime panel by Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole councillor Lisa Northover.

She said that other forces were now treating the behaviour as a hate crime and said that some Law Commissioners had also suggested that misogyny be included in hate crime when it was an exacerbating factor in an offence.

Police and crime commissioner Martyn Underhill said that Dorset Police did not regard misogynistic behaviour as a hate crime. He cited an example from Nottinghamshire where men on a building site who wolf whistled at a woman were charged.

“I haven’t got a view. It is one of those issues which is complicated…it’s not an issue I would lobby for or against,” he said.

He said that the issue was a controversial matter but he would welcome the views of the panel and others on the issue.