Local Elections 2010

Rotterdam party wants ban on hissing

Leefbaar Rotterdam, the political party founded by Pim Fortuyn before he entered national politics and was murdered, has made a ban on hissing and whistling at women part of its local election campaign.

The party, the second biggest on the city council at the moment, says such a ban would allow the police to intervene if women are being harrassed.

'Women should be able to cycle home at night. Who gets in the way of that, will be tackled,' campaign leader Marco Pastors told the Telegraaf.

In addition, the police should be able to use plain clothes officers to entrap men who whistle, hiss and threaten women, he said.

The measure is one of a number the party has included in a five point programme to beef up the safety of Rotterdammers.

Earlier this week, the Christian Democrats called for the introduction of a special community service programme for ethnic minority youths who hassle women and call them prostitutes.

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