Wolf-whistling and cat-calling might become crimes

[Phoenix Lazarus]

Do you agree?

Wolf whistling and catcalling could become crimes

Priti Patel will unveil plans for a national police lead officer to combat violence against women and girls ensuring offences such as indecent exposure and street harassment are taken more seriously.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[MaineCoonMama]

Do you agree?

Wolf whistling and catcalling could become crimes

Priti Patel will unveil plans for a national police lead officer to combat violence against women and girls ensuring offences such as indecent exposure and street harassment are taken more seriously.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Yes. I'm not a young girl anymore but I can still recall the feelings of anger, humiliation and frustration whether it was one bloke or several. Being called a sl-t for ignoring them. Being followed, intimidated and having apple cores thrown at me for simply trying to get from A to B without harassment. I mean, this hasn't happened to me for years but I can feel myself getting angry and emotional about it even now.

I could write paragraphs about the amount of times I've been harangued on the street for no other reason than I was just there. I see it as intimidation and sexual harassment, basically.

 

[ot55]

I hate catcalling. I don’t think it’s flattering at all and when it’s happened to me, I’ve always felt threatened and uncomfortable.

One time, when I was 17 and walking to college, I walked past a white van. Two youngish guys inside started leering at me. “Mmm don’t you look nice.” “What a pretty dress.”. There was no one else around and I was terrified they were just going to grab me.

Another time I was walking to college, a man on the other side of the road in a car shouted over that I should come get in his car because I was pretty. Once again, felt super vulnerable and was also a minor.

Although if it were illegal at the time, I do wonder what would have come of my cases. With no one else around it would have been my word against theirs.

Also, reading the daily Mail comments from the article (I know they’re usually bad anyway) it’s very negative, saying people should get a grip etc. I would probably be too scared to report to the police in case I got a very dismissive police officer who also shared the same opinions.

Oh there’s also a lady in the comments saying she’s 50 and misses those days. I hate it when people say that too. It’s never made me feel pretty or boosted my confidence. It’s made me feel scared.

 

[MaineCoonMama]

I hate catcalling. I don’t think it’s flattering at all and when it’s happened to me, I’ve always felt threatened and uncomfortable.

One time, when I was 17 and walking to college, I walked past a white van. Two youngish guys inside started leering at me. “Mmm don’t you look nice.” “What a pretty dress.”. There was no one else around and I was terrified they were just going to grab me.

Another time I was walking to college, a man on the other side of the road in a car shouted over that I should come get in his car because I was pretty. Once again, felt super vulnerable and was also a minor.

Although if it were illegal at the time, I do wonder what would have come of my cases. With no one else around it would have been my word against theirs.

Also, reading the daily Mail comments from the article (I know they’re usually bad anyway) it’s very negative, saying people should get a grip etc. I would probably be too scared to report to the police in case I got a very dismissive police officer who also shared the same opinions.

Oh there’s also a lady in the comments saying she’s 50 and misses those days. I hate it when people say that too. It’s never made me feel pretty or boosted my confidence. It’s made me feel scared.

Agreed it would be a hard thing to report, I didn't think of that. As for the lady saying she misses it, I find that a bit sad. I'm 54 and can say hand on heart I never felt as though I'm less feminine or desirable when the catcalling stopped as I got older.

Young girls are easier to intimidate, as a whole. Perhaps if there is some sort of law passed it might make a man think twice before he starts? Also law enforcement might be made to do some type of classes or modules on how to treat victims?

Interesting to see how this goes in the next few years, I think it's beneficial for men to be able to see how this affects women and girls. It wouldn't be accepted at a place of work.

 

[Melian]

Absolutely not agreeing but how would it work? I mean, I've had creeps shout at me and had someone ask me out whilst I was trying to go for a run. It was obvious that I wasn't interested.

Someone did suggest it was my fault and I should run at a different time. It was 8am on a Sunday.

 

[Kim Mild]

I don't know how it will be enforced unless it is caught on camera, sadly.

 

[BigMavis]

Hated it, don't miss it. Had to walk past a group of workmen yesterday and I immediately had the old feelings of apprehension. Have you watched A Promising Young Woman, great film, there is a scene where she just stands staring at the cat callers.

 

[Blue pumpkin]

Whilst I disagree with wolf whistling etc I think I'd feel stupid reporting it to the police especially as they are so overwhelmed and understaffed in most places and also dealing with much more serious crimes. Most companies have a zero tolerance approach to it now days. Wouldn't it be easier to report them to the employer there and then and companies who don't deal with it or take it seriously can be named and shamed.


Not long ago I read about a student in the states who marched straight thru a construction site and reported a construction worker to the site manager for whistling at her. He claimed to be whistling while he worked and not whistling at her. I just can't see this working.

 

[Raymond Luxury-Yacht]

I absolutely hate cat calling, I was cat called yesterday when shopping and it made me so angry It is NOT a compliment, never will be

 

[MaineCoonMama]

I don't think it will work in a traditional sense of reporting to authorities but I think it's a step in the right direction in that men should be held accountable. We all have cameras on our phones these days, I wish that had been the case the night my friend and I were at a bus stop and four guys started shouting crap at us.
We ignored them so they came up and surrounded us saying the weren't going to leave until we'd given them a 'duck' and a 'headjob'.

I got them to go by asking how they'd feel if one of us was a sister or cousin of theirs, they finally left still calling us names like white sl-t and wh-re, we were ugly anyway so they wouldn't let their brother do us.

I can tell you lads right now if I had a camera phone then I'd have shot the whole thing and reported it. That's what law enforcement is for, that's why I pay my taxes so fuckers like that don't move on to physical assault eventually.

I'm sorry to go off but this is a very touchy subject with me.

 

[Begborrowsteal]

Definitely agree. Men need to be held accountable. Its not a compliment, we shouldnt be grateful and we shouldnt just have to put up with it.

I still remember being catcalled when I was walking to PRIMARY school by 3 grown men. Its disgusting.

 

[Hurrah54]

Good. I absolutely hate it and it's not acceptable behaviour.
I used to take different, long routes home after getting off my school bus to avoid going across the park where there would always be older men jeering stuff at me as a school girl
There used to be building work next to my house at uni and without fail the builders would be high up on their scaffolding and ALWAYS shout something.. like piss off, I deserve to walk down my road without being humiliated.
I always get scared when I'm running as well because someone has driven slowly past me in their car and yelled inappropriate things... numerous times..like why? Can you NOT ruin my day?

Sensitive topic with me too because this isn't even the worst of it.

Edit to say.. I also agree, I have no idea how this can be implemented? Sigh

 

[Kim Mild]

Whilst I disagree with wolf whistling etc I think I'd feel stupid reporting it to the police especially as they are so overwhelmed and understaffed in most places and also dealing with much more serious crimes. Most companies have a zero tolerance approach to it now days. Wouldn't it be easier to report them to the employer there and then and companies who don't deal with it or take it seriously can be named and shamed.


Not long ago I read about a student in the states who marched straight thru a construction site and reported a construction worker to the site manager for whistling at her. He claimed to be whistling while he worked and not whistling at her. I just can't see this working.

It's true that the police don't have the resources to deal with all reports, even proper crimes but most forces have an online thing where minor things that have previously happened can be reported. Nothing will be done for that incident but the report will be there . Perhaps one of these reports could lead to someone being reprimanded, ( although probably for another offence)

 

[Begborrowsteal]

As much as I agree with this, I dont have any faith in the police when it comes to crimes against women. Someone close to me was chased through the street and threatened with rape and that he would find her again - the police did nothing. "We cant do anything until he actually attacks someone". Women are just bait.

 

[ktypage]

I worked as an Independent Sexual Violence Advisor alongside the police (up until April when the funding ran out for my job ) and I can tell you now, the way the police and all of their support agencies like us get the money is if more of these things are reported! It proves there is a need for these services and a need for officers to be seconded to that area specifically. The more reports = the more chances of this being taken way more seriously and more funds being allocated to this in particular.

It is one of those that the CPS would find extremely difficult to prosecute so I would be interested to see their evidence thresholds for that (please remember it’s not always the police that “don’t investigate”.. they are pretty much under the thumb from the CPS who give them a sort of checklist they have to tick off before they can even consider charging- that needs changing if you ask me!)

just reading some of the stories above though, there are definite examples of when catcalling crosses the line and become threatening and harassing behaviour which absolutely should be dealt with by the police.


A little tip for you all, and please pass on to your friends. If you make a report to the police and you’re fobbed off or the case is closed pretty quickly… lookup your local independent sexual violence advisor (ISVA) service. It’s all completely free and we are trained and qualified to support you with this.We can help you with something called a “victims right to review” or you can do that yourself if you give it a google with your local police forces name.

please don’t ever feel alone There are people out there who can help, we are just not talked about enough because I guess it’s still a “taboo” subject. Catcalling and Wolf Whistling can be extremely traumatic for some people and can actually trigger past traumas too.

 

[Begborrowsteal]

I worked as an Independent Sexual Violence Advisor alongside the police (up until April when the funding ran out for my job ) and I can tell you now, the way the police and all of their support agencies like us get the money is if more of these things are reported! It proves there is a need for these services and a need for officers to be seconded to that area specifically. The more reports = the more chances of this being taken way more seriously and more funds being allocated to this in particular.

It is one of those that the CPS would find extremely difficult to prosecute so I would be interested to see their evidence thresholds for that (please remember it’s not always the police that “don’t investigate”.. they are pretty much under the thumb from the CPS who give them a sort of checklist they have to tick off before they can even consider charging- that needs changing if you ask me!)

just reading some of the stories above though, there are definite examples of when catcalling crosses the line and become threatening and harassing behaviour which absolutely should be dealt with by the police.


A little tip for you all, and please pass on to your friends. If you make a report to the police and you’re fobbed off or the case is closed pretty quickly… lookup your local independent sexual violence advisor (ISVA) service. It’s all completely free and we are trained and qualified to support you with this.We can help you with something called a “victims right to review” or you can do that yourself if you give it a google with your local police forces name.

please don’t ever feel alone There are people out there who can help, we are just not talked about enough because I guess it’s still a “taboo” subject. Catcalling and Wolf Whistling can be extremely traumatic for some people and can actually trigger past traumas too.

Never heard of the ISVA! Thank you x

 

[ktypage]

Bit more information for you

The role of the Independent Sexual Violence Adviser (ISVA)

Sets out the expectations of the role of an ISVA.

www.gov.uk

 

[Hurrah54]

I worked as an Independent Sexual Violence Advisor alongside the police (up until April when the funding ran out for my job ) and I can tell you now, the way the police and all of their support agencies like us get the money is if more of these things are reported! It proves there is a need for these services and a need for officers to be seconded to that area specifically. The more reports = the more chances of this being taken way more seriously and more funds being allocated to this in particular.

It is one of those that the CPS would find extremely difficult to prosecute so I would be interested to see their evidence thresholds for that (please remember it’s not always the police that “don’t investigate”.. they are pretty much under the thumb from the CPS who give them a sort of checklist they have to tick off before they can even consider charging- that needs changing if you ask me!)

just reading some of the stories above though, there are definite examples of when catcalling crosses the line and become threatening and harassing behaviour which absolutely should be dealt with by the police.


A little tip for you all, and please pass on to your friends. If you make a report to the police and you’re fobbed off or the case is closed pretty quickly… lookup your local independent sexual violence advisor (ISVA) service. It’s all completely free and we are trained and qualified to support you with this.We can help you with something called a “victims right to review” or you can do that yourself if you give it a google with your local police forces name.

please don’t ever feel alone There are people out there who can help, we are just not talked about enough because I guess it’s still a “taboo” subject. Catcalling and Wolf Whistling can be extremely traumatic for some people and can actually trigger past traumas too.

This is really interesting and informative, thank you!!
Something more serious happened to me and I was really shaken by it as it was on my road at 9am!
The police never found the two men on cctv at the bottom of the road ; which I felt quite angry about, but I was proud of myself for reporting it because it will add to the figures. I never knew about ISVA. thank you

 

[ktypage]

I am quite saddened to hear that reports are made but people haven’t heard of the ISVA. It’s actually part of the “Victims Code” for the police to refer you to specialist services.

The Code of Practice for Victims of Crime in England and Wales and supporting public information materials

The Victims' Code focuses on victims' rights and sets out the minimum standard that organisations must provide to victims of crime.

www.gov.uk

That is also a really useful document for you to look at to make sure you are aware of your rights and how you should be treated following make a report to the police

This is really interesting and informative, thank you!!
Something more serious happened to me and I was really shaken by it as it was on my road at 9am!
The police never found the two men on cctv at the bottom of the road ; which I felt quite angry about, but I was proud of myself for reporting it because it will add to the figures. I never knew about ISVA. thank you

I’m really sorry to hear this happened to you You can get support any amount of time after the incident. You are amazing to have reported it.

 

[Bitofthebubbly]

Definitely for this. I’m not sure how enforceable it would be, but that’s not an excuse to do nothing imo. Things being enshrined in law can often lead to a change in attitudes. These days women are a lot less tolerant of being treated like meat. I feel like most women hate being cat called and no one should have to put up with being harassed when you’re just trying to get from a to b. You always get one older woman who claims it was a compliment in her day, but clearly that’s not how the majority of women feel so quite frankly these women should be ignored vs the hundreds of not thousands of women who feel harassed from cat calling.

No I’m not expecting every bloke who engages in this behaviour to be locked up/fined/what ever, but hopefully it will either be a deterrent or will give women the strength to realise they don’t have to put up with this and there are laws that support them, even if they don’t report it to the police, maybe they will say something to the bloke or report them to their employer if they’re doing it when they’re meant to be working. There will be no grey area really, It’s very clear now that cat calling is not acceptable behaviour. Doesn’t mean people will stop doing it but it’s a start.