France’s new gender equality minister has called for perpetrators of sexual harassment to be given an on-the-spot fine of €5,000.

Marlène Schiappa believes giving police officers the power to hand out fines worth £4,400 would be a deterrent for men who do not take the issue seriously and think that they are just being the “French lover”.

Sexual harassment is a “huge phenomenon in France,” Ms Schiappa, who has been appointed by the country’s new president Emmanuel Macron, told the Guardian.

‘Men feel it’s acceptable’

In the interview, Ms Schiappa suggested that part of the problem was male attitudes. “Men feel it’s acceptable: they’re being ‘the French lover’.”

“It’s that moment when a man is walking behind a woman, talking to her, and the woman can do nothing, because she’s alone.”

Marlène Schiappa

“It’s that moment when a man is walking behind a woman, talking to her, and the woman can do nothing, because she’s alone.

Ms Schiappa expressed concern that women who were sexually assaulted blamed themselves.

Only a large fine would act as a deterrent – a smaller amount would only be seen as “a bit humiliating,” she said.

‘We say: no’

“Many men are saying, ‘It’s not a big deal, we’re only having fun.’ And we say, ‘No.’”

The plan, which the gender equality minister said she would discuss with France’s justice secretary, comes after she was accused of playing down the level of harassment women face.

Ms Schiappa visited an area in Paris which is known for the problem earlier in June and said “the Republic’s laws protect women and apply every hour of the day and everywhere,” according to the BBC’s translation.

The minister was criticised on social media, with one person saying that she “walks around for five minutes… without being harassed and demands a medal”.