PCC faces calls to quit over short skirts comment

PCC John Dwyer said his comment about school girls' short skirts were unhelpful

A police and crime commissioner (PCC) is facing calls to resign over his comments about schoolgirls wearing "very short skirts" during a discussion on violence against women.

Mr Dwyer, Cheshire's Conservative PCC, has apologised for his words, saying "there can be no justification" for such violence.

But calling for Mr Dwyer to quit, a local Labour MP said the remarks amounted to victim blaming and set a bad example to police officers and the public - comments echoed by the leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council.

The county's police and crime panel has said it considers the matter closed following Mr Dwyer's apology.

A formal complaint about Mr Dwyer arose after a meeting with Culcheth and Glazebury Parish Council in November.

He is understood to have made the comments after being asked a question about a survey by an organisation working to tackle stereotyping of people subjected to crime, violence, abuse and trauma.

Mr Dwyer is said to have commented: "I notice school girls in my area are all wearing very short skirts and this did not happen in the 1960s."

The complainant, who has not been named, said Mr Dwyer’s words came across as victim blaming and misogynistic, and were met with shock in the meeting room.

In their complaint, they stated: “Given his senior position of influence over policing in Cheshire, making such a statement certainly does not fill me with confidence that women and girls in Cheshire feel able to report their experiences to the police.”

Mike Amesbury said the PCC's comments were a bad example to officers of Cheshire Constabulary

Apologising for "inappropriate and unhelpful" words, Mr Dwyer said he wanted to acknowledge the hurt caused and that what he said was wrong.

“I would like to offer both the complainant and the Police and Crime Panel a full and unreserved apology,” he said.

“In no way does it give an accurate reflection of how seriously I take the matter of tackling violence against women and girls.

“There can be no justification for the actions of perpetrators.”

Labour MP Mike Amesbury, who represents the Cheshire seat of Weaver Vale, said the apology did not go far enough.

He said the commissioner had implied women and girls were responsible for any unwanted attention if they wore a short skirt, and that this amounted to victim blaming.

“He is setting the wrong example to the men and women who work for Cheshire Constabulary given his important leadership and scrutiny role," Mr Amesbury said.

“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.”

Louise Gittins, Labour leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, posted on X: "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."