MPs launch probe into whether sexist online posts are fuelling ‘escalating violence against women’
MPs have launched a new parliamentary inquiry into whether sexist and misogynistic posts online are a warning that real life violence against women is to follow amid fears that chances to stop dangerous men are being missed.
The Women and Equalities Committee said the focus of its new probe into the “escalation of violence against women and girls” would be whether there are “patterns of behaviour” by men that indicate an increased likelihood to progress to serious attacks on female victims.
It said the inquiry – which follows tragedies such as the murder of aspiring London lawyer Zara Aleena by the prolific offender Jordan McSweeney and the violent crimes against women carried out by Met officers Wayne Couzens and David Carrick- had been triggered by “a number of high profile cases where women have been raped and murdered by perpetrators with a concerning history of offending”.
But it said that as well as looking at the links between earlier offending and later serious violence, it would also investigate whether “non-criminal behaviour” including “sexist and misogynistic language online” can be the prelude to physical attacks.
Caroline Nokes, the Tory MP and former Home Office minister who chairs the committee, said the inquiry would also examine whether there is “a problem in the workplace culture of some public sector organisations” including the police and fire service, which have both been engulfed by recent scandals about the conduct of some officers.
“In recent years we have seen a series of high-profile crimes, where men have been convicted of rape and murder who had a history of other forms of violent or sexual crime,” she said.
“We want to understand if there are patterns of behaviour which could indicate a higher likelihood to escalate to more serious forms of crime.
“This could include criminal behaviours, such as domestic violence, stalking or flashing, or non-criminal behaviours such as using misogynistic language. We also want to see if sexist and misogynistic behaviour online translates to physical violence in the real world.
“Are the police force and criminal justice system set up to identify and challenge these behaviours, and provide suitable interventions to mitigate their effects?
“Given the catalogue of cases of serving officers committing serious crimes, we also have to ask if they are doing enough to ensure the culture within their own ranks isn’t fostering dangerous attitudes to women.”
The committee is asking for written submissions on the issues it is investigating to be sent to it by 22 September before holding a series of hearings in the following months.
As well as examining the links between certain types of crime, including “non-contact sexual offences”, and later violence against women and any connection with online misogyny, the committee will also examine whether measures in response are adequate and what more might need to be done to reduce the risk to women.
