London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 10, 2025

Justice secretary: Misogyny may become a stand-alone crime in Scotland

Justice secretary: Misogyny may become a stand-alone crime in Scotland

Misogynistic abuse could be come a separate crime in Scotland, the justice secretary has said.

Keith Brown said men's attitude to low level sexism had to be challenged to make women safer.

His comments follow the sentencing of Wayne Couzens for the kidnap, rape and murder of Sarah Everard while Couzens was a serving police officer in London.

A working group led by Helena Kennedy QC on whether misogyny should be a distinct crime will report in February.

The full details of the Sarah Everard case, which emerged when he was sentenced last week, have reignited debate on what more can be done to tackle violence against women.

In March the Scottish government faced calls to include misogyny - prejudice against women - in its hate crime legislation when it was debated at Holyrood.

Labour MSP Johann Lamont tabled an amendment that would have included women as a protected group, giving the courts enhanced sentencing powers.

The amendment was defeated, however, with the government instead setting up a working group led by Baroness Kennedy to look at whether misogynistic abuse should be a separate crime.

Mr Brown told BBC Scotland's The Sunday Show the ministers would be guided by the group's findings - but he believed such a move would be a "very important signal that these behaviours are not acceptable in society from men".

"Her work is progressing very well and it may well be that we end up, depending on her recommendations, with a stand alone offence of misogyny," Mr Brown said.

Police vetting procedures


Mr Brown welcomed Police Scotland's introduction of new verification checks for lone police officers as a "very positive step" after it emerged that Couzens used his police warrant card and handcuffs to abduct Ms Everard.

New procedures mean members of the public who encounter an officer working alone in Scotland can verify their identity with the police control room.

The justice secretary said the measures put "the onus on the police not women to take action if somebody is in a vulnerable situation with one police officer".

Extra vetting procedures had also been put in place for trainee police officers in Scotland, he said.

The justice secretary said men of all ages had to change their attitudes to low level misogyny.

"I think it is very important that I have to say this, as a man to men, we have have to change our behaviour," he said.

"There are too many women that feel the justice system doesn't serve them well."

Sandy Brindley, from Rape Crisis Scotland, said one of the most "chilling" aspects of the Sarah Everard case was that Couzens was reportedly nicknamed "the rapist" by colleagues.

"What that says to me is that people knew that he behaved in a predatory way towards women and nobody held him accountable, and nobody challenged him - that's what we need to change," she said.

Asked about a report last year from former Lord Advocate Dame Elish Angiolini that found evidence of a "canteen culture" and discrimination within Police Scotland, Ms Brindley said there was no doubt sexist and racist attitudes existed within the police as well as in many other institutions.

"I do think we need a clear commitment from the police to address these issues, but I don't think it's only for the police," she said.

"Time and time again we see a man convicted of a crime like rape where it turns out that people around them, people who worked with them were aware of their predatory behaviour, an institution was aware of it and took no steps to challenge it.

"We need zero tolerance of the type of behaviour that leads for example being called a rapist and still continue in their job."

She said a "complete cultural change" was needed, pointing out that rape had the lowest conviction rate of any crime type in Scotland.

Only 43% of rape cases brought before a court end in conviction, compared with 88% of other crimes.

"If you are serious about improving women's safety, the starting point has to be having a justice system we can have confidence in and also a justice system that does not systematically let men who are guilty of rape walk free," she said.


Scottish Justice Secretary Keith Brown says misogyny could become a 'stand-alone offence' in Scotland

Sandy Brindley says cultural change is needed to enable more people to challenge misogynistic attitudes


Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
×