WEC to question emergency services on misogyny and sexism as part of its inquiry into escalating violence
The Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) will hold an evidence session with senior representatives from the emergency services and NHS on Wednesday 21 February as part of its inquiry into the escalation of violence against women and girls (VAWG).
MPs on the cross-party committee will examine to what extent escalating behaviours are a particular problem within the emergency services and other public sector organisations during the third session of its inquiry.
Meeting details
Following a series of high-profile cases involving emergency service workers, MPs will explore the culture of misogyny and sexism within these sectors and consider what this means for the women working within them.
During the first panel, MPs will question representatives from the NHS, Fire, and Ambulance services. Discussion will focus on the impact of hierarchy and power imbalances within these services, and the potential risk perpetrators of VAWG working on the front line pose to the public. MPs will also examine how services plan to tackle these behaviours and what systems are in place to support victims and whistle-blowers.
MPs will hear evidence during the second panel from the Metropolitan Police and National Police Chiefs Council which will focus on the way in which misconduct cases relating to sexual assault and harassment are handled, vetting processes, the role of social media in encouraging misogyny and harassment. A review in 2023 concluded the Metropolitan Police is institutionally sexist, in light of this, MPs may question what progress has been made in tackling institutionalised behaviours.