AN MP has called for Police and Crime Commissioner John Dwyer to resign over ‘misogynistic’ comments about schoolgirls wearing short skirts made at a public meeting in Culcheth, Warrington.
Weaver Vale Labour MP Mike Amesbury accused Cheshire’s PCC John Dwyer of ‘victim-blaming’ because the remarks were made during a public discussion about violence and abuse of women and girls.
Mr Dwyer, who has since offered an unreserved apology, reportedly told Culcheth and Glazebury Parish Council: “I notice schoolgirls in my area are all wearing very short skirts and this did not happen in the 1960s.”
An incensed Mr Amesbury commented: “Mr Dwyer says one his priorities is the safety of women and girls, then he’s come out with this sexist, misogynistic, outdated comment which is victim-blaming. Implying women and girls are responsible for any unwanted attention if they wear a short skirt.”
The Shadow Minister for Building Safety and Homelessness added: “He is setting the wrong example to the men and women who work for Cheshire Constabulary given his important leadership and scrutiny role. This episode also undermines public confidence because victims may be dissuaded from coming forward if they feel they won’t be listened to.
“Mr Dwyer is supposed to be the one holding the force to account on behalf of the people of Cheshire yet how can he be taken seriously after this? I call on him to do the right thing and resign.”
His Northwich councillor colleague Andrew Cooper, who is Labour’s parliamentary candidate for the new Mid Cheshire constituency, agrees Mr Dwyer’s position is ‘untenable’.
He said: “The outrageousness of John Dwyer making comments about the length of skirts worn by school girls in response to a question about tackling prejudice against female victims of violence is frankly jaw-dropping.
“Clearly the commissioner’s position is now untenable. How can women and girls have confidence that he takes violence against them seriously with such outdated views?”
A complaint about Mr Dwyer’s conduct was made by a parish councillor present at the meeting last November. It was investigated by the Complaints Management Sub Committee of Cheshire Police and Crime Panel which accepted the PCC’s apology and ‘considers this matter is closed’.
Meanwhile, UNISON Cheshire Police branch secretary Joanne Moorcroft issued a statement saying: “The misogynistic comments made by the Cheshire police and crime commissioner are very disappointing and have caused a lot of anger.
“This is particularly disheartening as Cheshire Police has made violence against women and girls a priority for the force.
“Public confidence in policing is at an all-time low and forces’ attitudes to sexism and racism are frequently called into question, despite some of the great work staff do.
“Leaders should lead by example, and these reprehensible comments will only serve to further damage public trust in the force and the morale of the staff working in it.”
Mr Dwyer was invited to make a response to calls for his resignation but stuck to his response to the complaint saying: “I want to begin by acknowledging the understandable hurt caused, and to make it unequivocally clear that what I said was wrong.
“I would like to offer both the complainant and the Police and Crime Panel a full and unreserved apology. I am truly sorry and accept that my comment was inappropriate and unhelpful.
“In no way does it give an accurate reflection of how seriously I take the matter of tackling Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). There can be no justification for the actions of perpetrators.
“My ambition to tackle this issue is clear in my Police and Crime Plan and the Panel will know that I have personally driven a number of projects and initiatives to tackle VAWG and the crimes that disproportionately affect women and girls.”
Full details of his response can be read here.
IN a discussion about the abuse faced by women and young girls @CheshirePCC John Dwyer implied that such abuse was only to be expected when ‘school girls in my area are all wearing very short skirts’ https://t.co/RxTL8XJjIo
— warrington-worldwide (@warringtonworld) February 1, 2024
4 Comments
If it was a police officer they would be counselled.
The country is full of snowflakes now
I hope he gets reelected in the May elections the best commissioner we have had
The call to resign and the claim of misogyny is politically motivated claptrap. It is those who make these claims who are the ones who need to leave public life.
Totally agree it is a politically motivated motion to remove him from office