Tory crime chief urged to quit over ‘brief skirts’ comment in girls abuse debate

John Dwyer, Cheshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, supplied a “full and unreserved apology” after being reported to the native Police and Crime Panel for ‘misogynistic remarks’ made in a council assembly

A Tory crime chief faces requires his resignation after making feedback about ‘short skirts’ throughout a dialogue about abuse of girls and girls.

John Dwyer, Cheshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, supplied a “full and unreserved apology” after being reported to the native Police and Crime Panel for ‘misogynistic remarks’ made in a council assembly. During a gathering of Culcheth and Glazebury Parish Council on November 28, Mr Dwyer invited girls to participate in a survey about private security and crime.

But he was heard saying: “I notice schoolgirls in my area are all wearing very short skirts and this did not happen in the 1960s.”

Warrington North MP Charlotte Nichols tweeted: “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.”

And Weaver Vale MP Mike Amesbury mentioned: “Mr Dwyer says one his priorities is the safety of women and girls, then he’s come out with this sexist, misogynistic, outdated comment which is victim-blaming.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.”

In response to the complaint, Mr Dwyer said: “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. I hope that my actions will go some way to reassuring the complainant – and anyone who is understandably concerned by my comment – about my commitment to stamping out VAWG.”