STRONGER measures are being taken to stamp out sexual harassment within Dumfries and Galloway Council amid fears that cases are not being reported.
Councillors this week rubber-stamped a new prevention of sexual harassment policy which will make it safe and easy for employees to report concerning incidents.
A recent government harassment survey revealed that three quarters of the adult population have experienced sexual harassment at some point in their lifetime, with the most common behaviours being sexualised jokes, staring or leering and sexualised comments.
Overall, 29 per cent of those in employment reported having experienced some form of sexual harassment in their workplace or work-related environment in the last 12 months.
However, there has been just one reported case within Dumfries and Galloway Council in the last year – despite a huge workforce of around 6500 people.
Speaking at the enabling and customer services committee on Tuesday, Annandale North Councillor Stephen Thompson said: “I find it remarkable that there’s been one case in terms of the thousands and thousands of staff interactions and with all members of the public.
“This is either brilliant – or we’re just not getting the whole story.
“If we’ve got an improved culture where people realise that they are correct to come forward and report incidents, then that’s an improvement. Maybe then we’ll get a better sense of what the true picture is after this (new policy) has run for a year or so.”
Lochar Councillor Ivor Hyslop said: “Councillor Thompson made a good point – are we just seeing that it’s being slightly under-reported because people aren’t confident to come forward?
“Hopefully this policy will actually give people confidence, if they feel that they are being harassed, to come and make their points.”
Stewart Clanachan, the council’s human resources manager, said: “In the last 12 months we’ve had one case, and of course in taking these important policies forward, one case is too many.
“A challenge for all employers is the potential for under-reporting, so the measures we’ve put forward within the new policy framework is to create confidence and that safety net for staff.
“This is so that they can report situations, they can understand what’s happening, and using the procedure we’ve put in place – which is already tried and tested – people will come forward more freely and easily in the future.”
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