Responding to the decision, women’s rights and hate crime organisations, including the Fawcett Society and Citizens UK, said the review had offered no alternatives to “help address widespread concerns about the lack of action by the criminal justice system”.

“The Commission’s review is too narrow and doesn’t recognise the value of including misogyny to enable recording of incidents which are currently invisible,” added the statement, which was also signed by Labour MP Stella Creasy.

Jemima Olchawski, CEO of the Fawcett Society, told Stylist: “The report from the Law Commission is a wasted opportunity to make real change for women. We are deeply disappointed that they have recommended not to reform the law and make misogyny a hate crime.

“While we welcome the Law Commission’s proposal that the Government review the law on public sexual harassment, we need to see this acted on quickly - it must not be used to kick this issue into the long grass.

“Making misogyny a hate crime is not just about sexual harassment. Without legal reform, when a Muslim woman has her headscarf ripped off, the law can only identify that as a racial or religious hate crime – not a misogynistic one. Without reform, the misogyny that drives a huge amount of online abuse will go unrecognised. Without reform, the chances of the police and criminal justice system understanding and responding to the hate women face is diminished.

“We will continue to hold the Government to account for the commitment they have made to recording hate crimes against women across the country, building on the good work done by a quarter of police forces already.”

“Very disappointed to learn that the Law Commission will not support making misogyny a hate crime. Nottingham Police piloted this and it increased reporting of VAWG. The government must act now,” wrote Dr Charlotte Proudman, a barrister, on Twitter.

Misogyny should not be made a hate crime, a review by the Law Commission has recommended