Policing bill will unjustly criminalise and imprison women for crimes they did not commit, experts say

‘The measures will impact women in coercive relationships or women who are in the wrong place at the wrong time,’ campaigner tells Maya Oppenheim

Campaigners say proposals will worsen racial inequalities, with black and minoritised women hit hardest due to their already being twice as likely to be arrested as white women (AFP via Getty)

Women will be unjustly criminalised and even imprisoned for crimes they did not commit because of a controversial policing bill that will “widen the net” of who gets targeted by police, experts have warned.

Under the new legislation, women will face up to two years in jail for not informing the police that someone they know is carrying a weapon – even if they may be unaware that the person is doing so.

Campaigners have said the so-called “ought to have known” proposals – which could lead to the issuing of “serious violence reduction orders” (SVROs) for those who were not in posession of a weapon themselves – will worsen racial inequalities, with black and minoritised women hit hardest due to their already being twice as likely to be arrested as white women.