The latest ban: wolf whistling
Police warning over saucy antics
Source: belfasttelegraph.co.uk
By Deborah McAleese
25 August 2006
Police last night warned amorous men to control their animal urges - by cutting out wolf whistling.
Aspiring Casanovas in Ballymoney have been strongly advised by the town's police to no longer show their appreciation of the fairer sex by whistling.
They say that wolf whistling is harassment. But last night amused politicians said the warning was political correctness gone mad.
The unusual police warning was issued after a 15-year- old schoolgirl complained to police that she had been whistled at by five men in a car in the Co Antrim town.
While police admitted there was nothing sinister to the incident they said it was "unacceptable behaviour" and told "young men" to "stop that sort of behaviour".
According to police the schoolgirl - who was waiting for her parents to pick her up at the Bravallen Road in the town when the amorous culprits stopped a car and whistled - had been left frightened by their attentions.
"In this day and age it is totally unacceptable for men in a car to go out and harass a young girl on her own," said a police spokesman.
He added: "While it may have been down to high spirits I would appeal to young men driving around with their windows down to stop that sort of behaviour.
"No attempts were made to encourage the girl to get into the car and they didn't say they would do anything to her but she was frightened by the experience. The incident happened in broad daylight and I don't believe there was anything sinister in it but at the end of the day it is an unacceptable thing to do to a girl of that age," he said.
Policing Board member Ian Paisley Jnr MLA said police should be putting their time to better use rather than issuing warnings about wolf whistling.
"This is definitely political correctness gone mad," said Mr Paisley.
He added: "People would expect the police to focus on more important things. I think it is time for police in Ballymoney to play to a different tune. There are a lot more important things for them to worry about."
One of Ballymoney Councils two female councillors, Anita Cavlan, said she thought the police warnings were crazy.
"I wish someone would whistle at me. It is totally crazy. Maybe in this case the young girl was a bit frightened, but for the police to tell all young men not to wolf whistle is PC gone mad. We all grew up with men wolf whistling. It's just harmless fun."
That is the most ridiculous thing IÂ’ve ever read.
