Sexual harassment can be done in many forms, apart from rape or non-consensual sex. Both men and women can be subjected to sexual harassment by the authorities in various ways.
The term sexual harassment refers to all unwelcome acts of sexual nature. The victims can complain about the police officer indulging in such activities if they know what kinds of actions count as sexual harassment or sexism.
Verbal sexual harassment
Verbal acts like calling a grown woman or a man a babe, doll, hunk, whistling at them, telling unwanted sexual jokes, and making sexual comments about the victim’s body parts come under sexual harassment. Asking about sexual orientation, fetishes, and referring to their dates, clothing, and sexual choices unnecessarily is also harassment.
Victims who come across police officers who indulge in such activities when searched or in general interaction can ask the officer to stop straightaway. They can complain to police brutality lawyers if the officer does not listen. USAttorneys.com links victims with the right lawyers who can help them in such situations.
Unwanted touching
Unwanted touching is common among police officers if the victim is a woman or an LGBTQ person. Leaning too close unwantedly, touching hair, breast, and other sensitive parts casually, or caressing the hands or skin is the first sign of unwanted touching.
It might further escalate to stroking, standing too close, patting the rear, blocking their way, and many other acts of unwanted and uncomfortable sexual touch.
If the victims sense such activities from the police officers they interact with, they should warn them and move away. If the police officer continues to pursue them, even after they have protested clearly, it is an act of sexual harassment and is severely punishable by law.
Pressuring for sexual favors
Some police officers might pressure the victims for sexual favors by threatening them with false charges. The request might be direct or indirect, and some people might force the victims without asking their consent and argue the act was consensual as the victim did not oppose strongly.
Rubbing and touching in the personal areas or sliding their hand on the backside casually, making them see sexual pictures in the mobile, or texting such images to their mobile also comes under harassment. If the victim keeps quiet out of fear or threat, the police take it as consent for the sexual act and proceed further.
Facial expressions
Facial expressions like winking, smirking, degrading hand gestures, and showing unwanted body parts are also considered sexual harassment. Often, victims who wonder why there is a sudden search on them are too occupied to note these actions.
The police search a person’s body for arms, drugs, or other hidden goods. Sexual harassment is common during such encounters as it takes place in private places and unwanted touches are common in such situations.
However, the victim can fight back if they know what they can report as harassment and what acts get used in standard police procedures.
Physical acts
Physical acts like pushing, pulling, kissing forcibly, holding the victim tight, making them immovable while performing a sexual act also come under sexual harassment. Though most of these acts look like common police force usage, the victim could feel the difference if it gets performed with sexual intent.
Physical acts of sexual harassment like licking in private places, stroking, or pinching them hard can leave a severe mental scar and terrify the victims. The victims are usually too scared or ashamed to talk about it in public or even to their family members.
The victims should fight back to prevent such officers from engaging in similar activities with others by reporting them to the law with the help of a good lawyer.