IPSO misrepresenting the Equality Act 2019 protected characteristics

[FemaleAndLearning]

I wrote to IPSO to complain about the headline and reporting of crimes committed by a 'female' PCSO. For background I have linked the thread about that incident. This is not about that, this is about IPSO.

I had their response today which I guess many of you did too. They blatantly misrepresent the Equality Act 2010 using gender identity instead of sex. Screenshot of part of the email where they list the protected characteristics.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/4291766-female?pg=1

Ideas welcome for next steps.

Yes, should be sex and gender re-assignment. Worth a letter back.

Why have they put the word "males" specifically in quotes there? Captured idiots.

Should say 2010 in title, big fingers!

They're referring to Clause 12 of the IPSO Editors’ Code of Practice, not the EA2010.

www.ipso.co.uk/monitoring/clause-12-monitoring/

Thanks OldCrone that is not great then. Do they have any need to follow the Equality Act rather than their own rules?

They make up their own rules but I think you can argue that reporting a male as female breaches those rules. Their Editors' Code of Practice has an accuracy clause which states:

"The Press must take care not to publish inaccurate, misleading or distorted information or images, including headlines not supported by the text."

www.ipso.co.uk/editors-code-of-practice/

They commissioned a report a couple of years ago on how the media reports on trans issues, so it is obviously something they have thought about, even if they haven't acted on the findings. (The report was actually very good.)

I would be asking why it says this, what the a rationale is for removing sex and gender reassignment? I would also want to see all previous versions of the code (if any) to see when this wording was introduced.

I was discussing the loss of women's safe spaces with friends a few weeks ago and one (a man) said he hadn't seen any news stories about transwomen committing sexual and violent offences and we women were making a fuss about nothing. Well, of course not, how could he, when they're being reported and recorded as crimes committed by women?

They still need to follow the Equality Act and any rules they make up must do so to.

I agree, if they make their code to comply with equality legislation, their code needs to reflect that legislation, they can't just rewrite it, or it isn't in fact compliant.

In terms of reporting on crimes, media outlets would follow what is said in court, so that relates to the Equal Treatment Bench Book.

fairplayforwomen.com/female-sex-offenders-and-women-committing-sex-crimes-why-cant-the-media-get-it-right/

In terms of next steps perhaps the advice at the bottom of that link is somewhere to start? As well as responding to IPSO and maybe also wrote to your MP and the GEO.

Want to get involved? Write to the Police and Crime Commissioner for your local police forcee_ asking for police to record by birth sex. When confronted by anyone accused of a typically male crime like violent or sexual offences, they should use their common sense and judgement. A person may claim to be a woman, but the police don’t believe half of what offenders tell them; why would they believe that?

[quote OhHolyJesus]In terms of reporting on crimes, media outlets would follow what is said in court, so that relates to the Equal Treatment Bench Book.

fairplayforwomen.com/female-sex-offenders-and-women-committing-sex-crimes-why-cant-the-media-get-it-right/[/quote]
That is interesting. Fair play for Women say they have been refused FOI for the bench book.