England: Upskirting to become a specific criminal offence

A bill to criminalise upskirting, the practice of taking sexually intrusive photos, is to receive its second reading in the Commons today.

Justice minister Lucy Frazer confirmed that the UK government will support a private member’s bill introduced by Liberal Democrat MP Wera Hobhouse creating a specific offence for the practice.

Those convicted of secretly taking photos underneath another’s clothing without their consent could be placed on the sex offender register.

At present, upskirting is dealt with under the offence of outraging public decency or as a crime of voyeurism under the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

The present bill came about in part due to the efforts of Gina Martin, a woman who was photographed in her underwear at a music festival in London last year. Police refused to arrest a man she accused of photographing her.

Ms Frazer said: “This behaviour is a hideous invasion of privacy which leaves victims feeling degraded and distressed.

“By making upskirting a specific offence, we are sending a clear message that this behaviour will not be tolerated, and that perpetrators will be properly punished.

“I’d like to thank Wera Hobhouse, Gina Martin, and all other campaigners for their tireless work, and look forward to seeing the bill progress through parliament.”

In Scotland, the practice is an offence under the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009.