Transport and police bosses in Beijing have issued the guidance in response to increasing reports of women being subjected to groping or covert filming on mobile phones.
They also suggested that women should not sit on the upper decks of buses and shelter their bodies using bags, magazine or newspapers.
According to the China Daily, the statement reads: ‘Women should not wear minimal clothing, such as mini skirts or hot pants when taking public transportation and should call police promptly if they are sexually harassed.
‘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.’
Anyone caught harassing women faces a warning, fine or up to 15 days in detention as a punishment, the guidelines add.
Xing Wei, a police officer with the department, said that the guideline has been published on the bureau’s micro blog to increase women’s awareness of the offence and give them ways of protecting themselves.
‘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.
He said police will warn, fine and detain perpetrators of sexual harassment with the heaviest punishment a 15-day detention.
Wang Jiansheng, director of Beijing Public Transport Holdings Ltd, agreed that the best way to solve the problem is for ask conductors to remind women to protect themselves.
He added that there is currently no camera system in place on public transport or complaints procedure for passengers.
‘After all, as a transport company, our main job is to take passengers to their destinations,’ said Wang.
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