Men who wolf-whistle at women in the street should be charged with a hate crime, says Labour MP

CATCALLING and wolf-whistling should be classed as hate crimes, a Labour MP has said.

The House of Commons will next week debate whether to treat crimes targeting women in the same way as racism and homophobia.

Labour MP Melanie Onn claims tough new rules are needed to encourage women to report sexual harassment.

She says an overhaul of the law would help cut anti-women crimes including upskirting and online trolling.

Ms Onn : "I’ve been told by police that women don’t necessarily report these incidents, such as men standing far too close to them on public transport.

"This could also include someone who catcalls a woman in the street or follows a woman out of a shop to chat them up when it is unwanted. I think these are warning signs and this change would give women the confidence to report these things.

“These things might be considered ‘banter’ or flirtatious but, if they are received as unwelcome in the way it is delivered, then it can be tantamount to harassment, even in a one-off case."

The Great Grimsby MP claimed catcallers often go on to carry out more serious crimes against women.

Ms Onn, the shadow housing minister, will lead a debate on the issue in Parliament on Wednesday.

Her bid could attract cross-party support - in January, Lib Dem deputy leader Jo Swinson called for misogyny to be classed as a hate crime.

Separately, the Government is considering making "upskirting" - where men use their phones to take photos up women's skirts - illegal for the first time.

At the moment upskirting pervs can only be tackled under broader laws against voyeurism.