#PCCGenderWoo RAZZIES!

UPDATE! #GRARG are pleased to announce we have a Winner! Julian Malins Q.C., Reform Party, Wiltshire takes the coveted #PCCRazzie for the most bizarre or callous comment about women’s sex based rights!

 #GRARG hereby bestow this gorgeous statuette in our feature image, and designed by the amazingly talented @moleatthedoor, in recognition of this proud achievement. We trust Mr Mallins will treasure this fabulously designed trophy down the years!

Please go to @SVPhillimore and vote in our Twitter Poll! 
Gold, Silver and Bronze Finalists will be revealed on Election Day!

We’ve selected 19 of the most bizarre and outrageous responses received during #AskYourPCC, and are offering them up for your perusal and votes! Our Lifetime Achievement Award goes to Derbyshire Police Crime Commissioner, Hardyal Dhinsa, not only for inspiring our campaign but for refusing to have any definition of “gender” as seen in their response to @SVPhillimore FOI yesterday. His comments and his force actions speak for themselves! Immediately below are quotes and actions from our top 3 candidates, voted for by GRARG Volunteers.

The table following lists the rest of the Fence Sitters and Refuseniks! GRARG looks forward to your thoughts and votes throughout the day. Our 24hr Poll will close tomorrow morning.

David Williams, Independent, Lincolnshire

“I do appreciate the strength of feeling that you and your mother have on this issue and I agree that the rights of women, and indeed any other group within society, should be respected. I am afraid however that I cannot subscribe to the statements which you ask me to. Matters of this nature are far more complex and involved than simple declarations such as the ones you have asked me to sign up to can adequately address. 

I realise that this is not the response you would like but it is my view”.

The statements he’s acting as though they are some anthrax package are:

We feel strongly that female victims should be able to choose the sex of their interviewer/examiner and that female suspects should only ever be searched by a female police officer. Do you support this right?

We also feel that crime must be reported by sex not gender. We are sick and tired of seeing misleading reports on “women” paedophiles who turn out to be men who “self identify” as women. Women are a sex class, not a feeling inside a man’s head and it is offensive to women to report these vile crimes as though they were committed by women. Women commit very few sex crimes so even a few men “self identifying” massively skews the statistics and changes society’s perspective on criminal behaviour. Do you agree that crime should be reported on the basis of sex not gender?

When asked to clarify these remarks, this candidate BLOCKED the Volunteer! 

Joe Otten, Liberal Democrat, South Yorkshire

“I would have to look further into the issue you raise regarding the collection of statistics, but it seems that not recording gender identity would itself lead to defective statistics, and that routinely doubting people when they tell you what their gender is, would be offensive and not just to trans people, so again I am not clear how this is meant to work.”

“I confess I am unclear why the distinction between sex and gender is important here or how this would work in practise. Why should a victim of a crime motivated by misogyny have to disclose to the police whether she is trans; there may be no telling whether the perpetrator knows or cares whether the victim is trans, though if they do then we may be talking about a transphobic hate crime too”.

Julian Malins Q.C., Reform Party, Wiltshire

“As to the current topics of debate regarding gender/sex etc. to which you refer, I think that these growing issues are more than simply a result of the usual cultural and/or social changes taking place in the population (which is often simply a cyclical phenomenon in history), but is in fact, a real phenomenon.  My present theory – and it is only a theory which I would alter if new facts came to light – is that since the contraceptive pill became widely used from around 1968 and also because of the extraordinary growth in the use of hormones in the agricultural industry, hormones have entered the aquifers and subsequently into drinking water and that young people, going through puberty, genuinely are confused about their sexuality.  This, I think should be investigated.

But, as I say, I am a live and let live kind of person.”

Full list of RAZZIE Candidates

1. Loraine Birchall, Lib Dem, Cumbria

2. Mark Shelford, Conservative, Avon and Somerset

3. Adrian Stratton, Independent, Gloucestershire

4. Brian Blake, Liberal Democrat, Devon and Cornwall

5. John Dwyer, Conservative, Cheshire

6. David Keane, Labour, Cheshire

7. Dan Hardy, Dorset, Independent

8. Kerry Barker, Labour, Avon and Somerset

9. Martin Surl, Independent, Gloucestershire

10. Ross Pepper, Liberal Democrat, Lincolnshire

11. David Williams, Independent, Lincolnshire

12. Kevin Hurley, Independent, Surrey

13. Sue Morris, Reform, Cambridgeshire

14. Howard Kaye, Labour, Surrey

15. Joe Otten, Liberal Democrat, South Yorkshire

16. Julian Malins Q.C., Reform Party, Wiltshire

17. Stuart Jackson, Green Party, Devon and Cornwall

18. Stewart Golton, Liberal Democrat, West Yorkshire

19. Tim Passmore, Conservative, Suffolk

Quotes from all #GenderWoo candidates are below. 

The Biological Genderist

1. Loraine Birchall, Lib Dem, Cumbria

Note: She refused to send email, and made up waffly sob story … but still wants votes. Politically expedient. 

Exact Comments from Volunteer “The lib dem candidate..  now what an interesting convo. I have a feeling biological gender may appear. As she said it 6 times on the phone. She is very pro woman, I said I think your definition is very different to mine. But she did accept that there is a conflict with self id and womens rights.

She kept saying gender hate crimes, and I told her that did not exist. It’s not a protected characteristic in law, she sighed and said ‘oh you do know what your about’. Erm yeah thanks

She enjoyed the email and is trying to reply as in depth as she can”

2. Mark Shelford, Conservative, Avon and Somerset

 “I am not an expert in this subject but the common sense approach must be based on biological gender.”  

3. Adrian Stratton, Independent, Gloucestershire.

Note: Adrian has the unique distinction of being the recommended PCC candidate for Gloucestershire but also featuring on our list of most strange and unusual comments, because whilst he demonstrated he understood #SexMatters, he did initially use the phrase “biological gender”. He later explained that is how sex is recorded in Gloucestershire Constabulary, when asked for clarification.

“The recording of gender should always have been recorded and I am amazed this isn’t happening. I am now informed that Gloucestershire have recently begun recording the biological gender on crimes. I would review this as a priority. Crimes must be recorded accurately as the details show us what needs to be addressed and also sets our priorities”.

The Fence sitter

4. Brian Blake, Liberal Democrat, Devon and Cornwall

“I too feel uncomfortable about the gender reassignment issue, which is a matter for Parliament.”

5. John Dwyer, Conservative, Cheshire

“The issues you raise are of concern and will be addressed by me should I be successful on 6th May. Having addressed them, I anticipate a publication of the approach to be adopted by Cheshire Constabulary so that the public can be informed of the policies. I trust will find my response helpful.“

The Unhelpful 

6. David Keane, Labour, Cheshire

“It’s good to hear that you are actively considering where to use your vote. My stance against violence against women and girls is absolutely clear and unequivocal, and as a White Ribbon Ambassador my commitment is strong, clear and active. My commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion is equally clear and based upon my personal values, which I rely upon in every decision I make. I stand firmly against discrimination and prejudice in all its forms. I’m firmly committed to protecting dignity and human rights of all of our residents. 

The Confused

7. Dan Hardy, Dorset, Independent

“I fully understand the challenges for all in such a delicate period of someone’s life – Toilets, changing room uses etc. An example is strip searching, a female should only strip search a female. Simple. Intimate searches involve medical professionals, or requests for the suspect to remove items from orifices with same sex officers present, again, simple. But what if I’m defined as a woman, but still have genitals?…”

“I have vast experience of these very real life policing issues from being a custody sergeant. My view – I personally feel sex/gender reporting should potentially go the same way as race identification, the victim or witness elects and can self define another option. This approach would support better data based on the victims actual needs, avoid error and also support neutrality.”

Conflation of issues – ‘women’ is really about something else entirely: trans, BLM, take your pick! 

8. Kerry Barker, Labour, Avon and Somerset

I understand that Avon and Somerset is one of the forces that records misogyny as a hate crime. I have made a statement on transgender issues.  I am afraid that I can do no more than copy it to you in the hope of securing your vote.”

(Produces statement which reads):

“The police have the difficult task of following a narrow neutral path when dealing with divisive social issues.
Most important is that they comply with the law and are seen to be upholding the law.
In particular, in this field, the police are bound by the Gender Recognition Act 2004 and, as a public body, by the Equality Act 2010.
Section 9 of the Gender Recognition Act 2004 provides that where a full gender recognition certificate is issued to a person, the person’s gender becomes for all purposes the acquired gender (so that, if he acquired gender is the male gender, the person’s sex becomes that of a man and, if it is the female gender, the person’s sex becomes that of a woman).
So, if a person born of one sex has the benefit of a full gender recognition certificate and so acquires the opposite gender the police must, and will, treat that person as being of the sex set out in the certificate.“

9. Martin Surl, Independent, Gloucestershire

“Domestic abuse, sexual violence and racism are the crimes and behaviours akin to a malignant cancer that can destroy every aspect of a victim’s life.
I regularly update my Police & Crime Plan and last year when it was clear the elections would be cancelled I did just that and referenced the changes that needed to take place following the revelation from the #Me too movement, the murder of George Floyd.”

10. Ross Pepper, Liberal Democrat, Lincolnshire

“With regards to victim support, if elected, I will look at all aspects of victim support to ensure that any victim of crime is given the support they need. This is especially the case in relation to sexual assault. As someone who has supported someone close following an assault, I want to ensure any victim of rape or sexual assault is treated with the upmost dignity and respect in a very difficult period. I also want to make sure that victims come forward and speak out, are listened to and are respected.

However, with regards to your four statements, I cannot confirm that, as I do not share your views. If elected, I will ensure that the trans community in Lincolnshire know that the police are there for them. Both transwomen and transmen suffer much abuse in our communities, and I will not just stand by”. 

The generally patronising, dismissive and callous

11. David Williams, Independent, Lincolnshire

“I do appreciate the strength of feeling that you and your mother have on this issue and I agree that the rights of women, and indeed any other group within society, should be respected. I am afraid however that I cannot subscribe to the statements which you ask me to. Matters of this nature are far more complex and involved than simple declarations such as the ones you have asked me to sign up to can adequately address. 

I realise that this is not the response you would like but it is my view”.

The statements he’s acting like they are some anthrax package are:

We feel strongly that female victims should be able to choose the sex of their interviewer/examiner and that female suspects should only ever be searched by a female police officer. Do you support this right?

We also feel that crime must be reported by sex not gender. We are sick and tired of seeing misleading reports on “women” paedophiles who turn out to be men who “self identify” as women. Women are a sex class, not a feeling inside a man’s head and it is offensive to women to report these vile crimes as though they were committed by women. Women commit very few sex crimes so even a few men “self identifying” massively skews the statistics and changes society’s perspective on criminal behaviour. Do you agree that crime should be reported on the basis of sex not gender?

When asked to clarify these remarks, this candidate BLOCKED the Volunteer! 

12. Kevin Hurley, Independent, Surrey

“I don’t have time trying to reach 800K people to get into a debate about people choosing to change their genders”.

“Thank you for your informative and passionate message. I share that passion. I do not have time to answer every point. I can say I investigated the Suzy Lamplugh disappearance/murder.” Goes on to not answer questions of recording criminal offences by biological sex, and instead rants on about arresting “yobs” and “rebuilding the police in Iraq and Afghanistan”

13. Sue Morris, Reform, Cambridgeshire

“My personal belief is that all people are important and have equal protection under the law. I do not support isolating specified groups as different and outside of the mainstream. This may appear to give them special status but the downside is that it creates separateness. I do not think that this is how a healthy society should operate and hope to be taking positive steps to strengthen people and encourage them to take personal responsibility and contribute their skills.”

14. Howard Kaye, Labour, Surrey

Volunteer: In what way can a man become a woman? And, therefore how do you define woman, if not as adult human female?
Answer: I will accept that your not going to be voting for me.”

(That is not a typo, Reader. That is Howard’s grammatical skills on full display)

15. Joe Otten, Liberal Democrat, South Yorkshire

“I would have to look further into the issue you raise regarding the collection of statistics, but it seems that not recording gender identity would itself lead to defective statistics, and that routinely doubting people when they tell you what their gender is, would be offensive and not just to trans people, so again I am not clear how this is meant to work.”

“I confess I am unclear why the distinction between sex and gender is important here or how this would work in practise. Why should a victim of a crime motivated by misogyny have to disclose to the police whether she is trans; there may be no telling whether the perpetrator knows or cares whether the victim is trans, though if they do then we may be talking about a transphobic hate crime too”.

The downright bizarre!

16. Julian Malins Q.C., Reform Party, Wiltshire

“As to the current topics of debate regarding gender/sex etc. to which you refer, I think that these growing issues are more than simply a result of the usual cultural and/or social changes taking place in the population (which is often simply a cyclical phenomenon in history), but is in fact, a real phenomenon.  My present theory – and it is only a theory which I would alter if new facts came to light – is that since the contraceptive pill became widely used from around 1968 and also because of the extraordinary growth in the use of hormones in the agricultural industry, hormones have entered the aquifers and subsequently into drinking water and that young people, going through puberty, genuinely are confused about their sexuality.  This, I think should be investigated.

But, as I say, I am a live and let live kind of person.”

17. Stuart Jackson, Green Party, Devon and Cornwall

“Issues of gender identity are complex. I would be a PCC who listens to all views. Above all, I would wish to help change Devon & Cornwall, and the ways in which we are policed, with the following aim. 

That: all women, both those assigned female at birth and those who self-identify as female later in life; and all non-binary people and people who self-define as LGBTQIA+ feel safe at home, and therefore feel confident to report domestic abuse should it occur feel safe in our streets, to dress in clothing which makes them feel good about themselves and that all citizens should be policed with respect, and taken seriously, whenever they become victims of crime.

May the 6th, be with us and May the Force be with us!”

18. Stewart Golton, Liberal Democrat, West Yorkshire

“I could have responded quite quickly and positively to the majority of your email, but I found myself perplexed by your question of the difference of ‘woman’ and ‘female’. Can I ask you the same question so that I can understand the context within which the question is framed?

If the question is one of fear of sexual assault, what would you suggest should be the response to a person who objects to a person of the same sex/gender searching them because they are gay?

19. Tim Passmore, Conservative, Suffolk

“Transgender officers/staff presenting as the opposite sex to their birth sex, can search a person of the sex that they are presenting as, without the need for any legal proof of gender unless there are clear reasons why it would not be appropriate to do so.”

20. Hardyal Dhinsa, Labour Candidate and incumbent PCC, Derbyshire – GRARG Lifetime Razzie Award

“We all know majority of ‘gender hate’ will mean misogyny. Women and girls need to be given confidence to report and stand up to this unwarranted hate behaviour. Proud to see it being delivered in #Derbyshire #Derby on my watch as #DerbyshirePCC”.