GWENT Police is urging members of the public to contribute to a Wales-wide discussion on how forces should tackle sexual harassment and if it should be treated as a hate crime.

In 2016, Nottinghamshire Police became the first in Wales and England to record sexual harassment as a hate crime.

The force categorises incidents such as wolf whistling, street harassment, verbal abuse and taking photographs without consent within the definition.

It also includes unwanted sexual advances, uninvited physical or verbal contact and using mobile phones to send unwanted messages.

Misogyny is now also considered a hate crime by North Yorkshire Police as other UK forces examine their approach to offences which specifically target women.

Last month, Scotland declined to introduce a misogynistic harassment law.

Campaigners calling for an end to violence against women expressed disappointment after an independent review of hate crime laws there stopped short of recommending a new offence of misogynistic harassment.

The sex scandal which started with the Harvey Weinstein revelations from Hollywood, Parliament and beyond has exposed a possible gap in UK legislation.

Sexual harassment is not actually a criminal offence in its own right.

The Equality Act currently covers sexual harassment in the workplace – but outside work, prosecutors must use different pieces of legislation, depending on the nature of the offence.

Earlier this year, the Hate Crime Criminal Justice Board Cymru, featuring representatives of Gwent Police, received financial backing from Welsh Government to launch a public survey in an effort to dig deeper into the issue – and it is available online until July 23.

Gwent Police Assistant Chief Constable Rhiannon Kirk said: "We are determined to challenge and change the culture of misogyny and sexual harassment wherever they arise in order for women to feel safe in their community and to have the freedom to make life choices without fear of sexual harassment.

“We want people to be able to access every area of society with confidence, including sport, public transport and the night-time economy as well as other aspects of their lives.

"I would encourage everyone to take part in the survey, as part of a broader strategy to tackle violence against women and girls.

“We will use the findings to help shape how we address this serious issue moving forward and treating it as a hate crime is among the options open to us."

In Wales, England and Northern Ireland, hate crimes fall into five categories – disability, race, religion, transgender identity and sexual orientation.

However police forces can create their own categories, depending on local concerns and problems.

The survey, funded by Welsh Government and created by South Wales Police on behalf on the Hate Crime Criminal Justice Board Cymru, is available until July 23 at www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/SWPCOM.