POLICE & Crime Commissioner (PCC) John Dwyer, has offered a ‘full and unreserved apology’ after being reported to Cheshire Police and Crime Panel for misogynistic remarks made in a council meeting.
The Conservative PCC, in a discussion about the abuse faced by women and young girls, implied that such abuse was only to be expected when ‘school girls in my area are all wearing very short skirts’ adding ‘this did not happen in the 1960s’. It appeared that his view was that girls only had themselves to blame if they were abused.
The discussion centred around a survey the Commissioner was conducting, inviting women and girls in Cheshire aged 16 or above to take part in a survey about personal safety, crime and their experiences with the police.
Councillors and even police personnel attending the meeting last November with Culcheth and Glazebury Parish Council near Warrington were visibly shocked by the remarks. They were so outraged by the misogynistic views that one councillor lodged an official complaint with the Cheshire Police and Crime Panel, the body responsible for scrutinising the PCC.
The complaint submitted has now been upheld by the Panel and the Commissioner has responded by ‘acknowledging the understandable hurt caused’, and has said that he wants to ‘make it unequivocally clear that what I said was wrong’.
The Vice Chair of Culcheth and Glazebury Parish Council Janet Seddon said: ‘It is the responsibility of all right-minded people to challenge misogyny and victim blaming wherever it occurs. As Parish Councillors we were shocked to hear views expressed about girls wearing short skirts on the way to school as if it is some kind of justification for sexual abuse. When views like this are shared we must all with one voice indicate our disgust and refuse to accept it, especially from people in positions of power and public trust’.
Meanwhile, Dan Price, Labour’s candidate for Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner said: “During some pretty basic questioning, our current Commissioner couldn’t prevent himself from victim blaming school girls. Is this what the Conservative Party calls civic leadership? Cheshire communities deserve so much better than this.”
“John ought to do the decent thing and consider his position. At the very least, he should follow my campaign pledge to “learn from victims” instead of blaming them.”
Cllr Louise Gittins, Leader of Cheshire West & Chester Council, on the outcome of the complaint added:”John Dwyer’s comments were disgraceful and his apology does not change the fact that he thought it appropriate to comment on the clothing of young girls and blame female victims of abuse and trauma.
“If John Dwyer was sincere about tackling violence against women and girls he would have already resigned. His outdated and offensive views make it impossible for him to continue.”
The Panel has published the full text of the complaint and the Commissioner’s response on their page of the Cheshire East website.
Appalling victim blaming comments from John Dwyer that should call into question his suitability to continue in his role as Cheshire's Police and Crime Commissioner. https://t.co/WC9EsmIVSw
— Charlotte Nichols (@charlotte2153) February 1, 2024
1 Comment
Just highlights the absurdity of the role, I’d say. I can’t honestly say I’ve ever met anybody other than John Dwyer who thinks the role has any merit. Is it time to look at alternative ways of scrutinisng the police?