WILTSHIRE Police and the government will be asked to do more about harassment and violence against women and girls.

Swindon councillors of both sexes spoke about the issue and voted unanimously in favour of making the request.

The motion was put forward by Labour councillor Adorabelle Shaikh and seconded by Conservative Tim Swinyard, who is also a trustee of Swindon Women’s Aid.

It said the Law Commission had proposed that sex and gender be added to the list of protected characteristics covered by hate crime law. That means an incident where it is believed the victim was chosen because she was a woman would become recorded a hate crime or incident.

Coun Shaikh said: “An investigation by UN Women UK found that 97 per cent of women aged 18-24 have been sexually harassed, with a further 96 per cent not reporting that harassment because of the belief that it would not change anything.

“Almost every woman in this country has experienced harassment.”

Coun Shaikh said it was a common experience of woman and girls to have plans and strategies to avoid or minimise threatening situations on the streets.

She said: “I know I’m not alone when I make sure to call a family member when walking home on a dark winter’s evening.”

She said cuts in police numbers over the last decade had not helped.

Coun Shaick added: “Her Majesty’s Inspectorate are saying the cracks are showing. And it means when crimes are reported they are often investigated by under-qualified officers.”

The Tory administration will now write in favour of recording harassment of women as misogyny hate crime, to act upon the Law Commission recommendations and to change to law to make an offence of “a course of conduct” of the targeting of women and girls.

It calls for more funding for police to make the streets safer for women and girls and calls on the Wiltshire force to follow the example of Nottinghamshire in recording incidents and crimes targeting women – from catcalls, street harassment and stalking to sexual assault and rape – as misogyny hate crime.

Coun Swinyard said: “I was worried about seconding this motion as a man – but I realised misogyny will only be defeated when enough men say enough is enough and decide to stand with women.”

Coun Swinyard we need a better understanding of why conviction rates for crimes against women are falling.

He added: “I’d like to see us abolish the time limits for prosecuting crimes of domestic violence, and to see an increase in numbers of convictions.”

The government announced last week it would be asking police forces in England and wales to follow Nottinghamshire’s example.

Wiltshire Police does not currently record misogyny hate crimes and incidents and said it was awaiting instructions from government.