France to make asking women for their phone number, a criminal offence

Wolf-whistling is set to be banned in France as the government declares war on men hassling women in public.

Under proposed plans ,bugging women for their telephone numbers and following them could also be prohibited.

The crackdown comes after surveys show virtually all French women have been harassed on public transport, in the street or elsewhere at some time.

France’s new leader, President Emmanuel Macron, pledged to end this during his election campaign this year, Reuters reports.

Only a few countries, including Belgium and Portugal, have banned such behaviour.