Boasting about conquests will lead to prison under SNP law

MEN who loudly discuss their sexual conquests in public could face up to seven years in jail under plans to criminalise misogyny in Scotland.

A consultation, published yesterday by the SNP government, proposes creating new laws to outlaw “abusive and humiliating” male behaviour which, it is claimed, stops women “fully participating in society”. Under a new offence of “misogynistic behaviour” it would not be necessary for a man to directly address a woman to be found guilty. Instead, they could watch pornography where others could see it or have “loud, graphic sexual conversations about women in a public place where they can be heard by others”. A new offence of “misogynistic harassment”, means an offence would be committed if a man shouts sexually abusive remarks at a woman or uses abusive language.

Also, “deliberately rubbing up against a woman in a crowded place” or showing pornography to a female, and “stirring up” hatred online would become offences – as well as making rape, sexual assault or disfigurement threats against women.

The plans are based on a report written by Baroness Helena Kennedy KC, the Labour peer, who was paid £1,000 a day by Nicola Sturgeon’s government to conduct an investigation into misogyny.

A statutory aggravation of misogyny offence would also be created. This would mean if an offence had misogynistic features, it could be punished more harshly, like offences linked to racism.