How to avoid sexual harassment: Cops tell girls to shun mini skirts,hot pants

“Women are advised to not sit on higher levels of buses and to stand on lower stairs,to avoid being the target of inappropriate picture-taking,and they should shelter their

bodies with bags,magazines and newspapers,” it said.

Anyone caught harassing women would have to undergo 15 day punishment,the guidelines said.

The new regulations were published to prevent the sexual harassment of passengers on buses and subways but critics were sceptical about the efficacy of such measures,the report said.

The guidelines came amid increasing complaints of groping and surreptitious photographing with mobile phones.

Xing Wei,a police officer with the department,said yesterday that the guideline has been published on the bureau’s micro blog,asking that women be informed to increase awareness for protection.

“It is hard for us to collect evidence in sexual harassment cases despite cameras on buses and subways. It is also difficult to train public transportation workers to assist women in harassment prevention and response,” Xiang said.

Now,police will warn,fine and detain perpetrators of sexual harassment in accordance with a security control regulation in place,he said,adding the heaviest punishment is a 15-day detention.

Wang Jiansheng,director of the security department with Fourth Transport Company under Beijing Public Transport Holdings Ltd,echoed the police officer,saying the best safety method is to ask conductors to remind women to protect themselves,rather than publish notices or establish a rule.

“When a woman informs the company that she has been sexually harassed,we’ll report to the police and assist them in the investigation,” Wang said.

Commenting on the new rule Jiang Yue,a law professor at Xiamen University and an expert in women’s rights,said the advisory from police will not solve the problem at its root.

“In fact,it’s easy and necessary to require transport operators to provide warnings on buses and subways,” Jiang said.

“Passengers pay to take transport,so they have the responsibly to give them a safe environment”.

Jiang suggested a law to prevent sexual harassment,adding harassment affects men as well as women.

Lin Lixia,an expert in women’s protection with Beijing Zhongze Women’s Legal Counseling and Service Centre,agreed with Jiang,adding that a law should make the responsibility and punishment of the transport operators clear.