NORTHWICH Town Council is continuing to put pressure on the police and crime commissioner John Dwyer.

It comes after he made comments about schoolgirls wearing 'very short skirts', which he has since admitted were a 'mistake' and 'inappropriate'.

At a meeting of the Cheshire Police and Crime Panel on February 2, Mr Dwyer apologised and stated he was not a misogynist.

The panel’s sub-committee upheld the complaint but opted not to take any further action.

Now, Northwich Town Council is urging the panel to reconsider.

In a letter to the panel, mayor Jane Thomas said: “We are concerned the remarks made by Mr Dwyer, together with the subsequent response from the complaints sub-committee, risk undermining the hard-won positive outcomes in tackling violence against women and girls going forward.

“We would like to call upon your subcommittee to revisit their response and ask Mr Dwyer to consider his position.

“For example, has the committee asked Mr Dwyer to undertake further training in promoting equality?

"Have they asked him to demonstrate how he intends to conduct himself going forward? Have they asked him to explain why he now thinks his remarks were wrong?"

She added: “Town councillors of all genders and political parties voted unanimously to write to your committee. We are not confident that the actions/response taken by your sub-committee are suitably robust.

“Mr Dwyer’s credibility as a leader and person who has a strong influence on the conduct and culture of Cheshire Police have been seriously undermined.

“In accepting Mr Dwyer’s apology with no censure or remedial programme also undermines the credibility or your committee.

"It undermines the work of your own officers and their collaborative work with Northwich Town Council. It indicates that your committee thinks that misogyny and violence against women is very lightly dismissible.”

READ MORE: Crime commissioner apologises over ‘very short schoolgirl skirts’ comment in meeting

Chairman of the Cheshire Police and Crime Panel Evan Morris welcomed the council’s comments and has invited councillors to the panel’s next meeting on March 15.

He said: “The concerns raised by Northwich Town Council were very thoughtful and constructive.

“I would reassure Northwich Town Council and the wider Cheshire public the Police and Crime Panel is conducting itself professionally and is effectively scrutinising the commissioner’s work in relation to protecting women and girls.

“It takes the same approach to all other areas of the commissioner’s work.”

At the meeting on March 15, the panel will 'fully review' the initiatives and organisations Mr Dwyer has supported in tackling the issue of violence against women and girls.