Feature: Police in Britain's Nottinghamshire declares misogyny as hate crime

Nottingham Police has become the first constabulary in Britain to declare misogyny as a hate crime.

Although the new law criminalises serious incidents of misogynistic hate crime, it also encapsulates behavior such amorous calls, known to generations of men in Britain as "wolf whistling" or "cat calling".

While some females may enjoy attracting the attention of wolf-whistling guys as they walk along the street, others find the attention from males most unwelcome.

Nottingham's chief constable Sue Fish issued a statement on Thursday reiterating her police force's commitment to giving women in Nottinghamshire the confidence to report incidents of misogynistic hate crime.

Her statement was prompted by the way local media focused on the "wolf whistling" aspect of the clampdown.

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 have heard first-hand accounts from women who have been through this, who were left frightened and intimidated, but felt there was nothing they could do about it."

"We want to encourage women to feel that they can report incidents where they have been made to feel intimidated, or frightened by this unacceptable unwanted behaviour," said Fish.

Police say wolf-whistlers and cat callers are likely to be visited and "spoken too" by police officers rather than being dragged before the local magistrates for punishment.

The local Nottingham Post even ran its own straw poll, asking: "Is wolf-whistling a good or bad thing?"

Readers were quick to give their opinions to the newspaper, showing that feelings were mixed on the topic.

Some thought the initiative was a great idea while others slammed it as being unnecessary. More than a few were bewildered that the subject had even come up, and there were plenty of jokes to take the heat out of a fiery thread, said the Post.

Emma Johnson chipped into the debate stating: "You don't know what it's like to have comments made about you in the street, completely unsolicited, rude and personal. This isn't about being chatted up, this is about women being made to feel uncomfortable in public places, often when they're alone."

Katie Keating described how the issue was very real to her, telling the newspaper: "This isn't about being flattered by attention it's about making a stand and showing society that it's not OK to harass a woman just because she's a woman. I used to get harassed every single day."

But Lynn Hope gave an opposing view, saying: "A wolf whistle used to make my day when I was younger. The world's gone mad."

And William Pastuszka wrote: "What a joke, so it is now illegal to compliment women."

Sammy Westbury wrote: "If I was wolf whistled at, firstly I'd have to check over my shoulder that it was most definitely me that they were whistling at and secondly I'd take it as a compliment and walk away with a smile thinking I've still got it. The world's gone crazy." Endit