‘Upskirting’ could become sex crime after 60,000 sign victim’s petition

THE Justice Secretary has said he is considering making “upskirting” a criminal offence, after 60,000 people signed a victim’s petition.

David Lidington said that he took the issue “very seriously” and was taking legal advice on whether it can be added to the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

Gina Martin, 25, launched a petition after someone took a photograph up her skirt at a festival in Hyde Park earlier this year. She said that the Metropolitan Police told her they could not punish the man because he had “done nothing illegal”. Ms Martin told the Evening Standard: “Although the police were incredibly kind, the reaction was as bad as what that creepy man did to me – women are not protected by the law when they ask for help.

“I think women in general are told to brush off something like having a pervy photo taken of you because it’s not a massive deal, but it’s harassment and it’s happening all the time. Loads of women have messaged me since I launched the petition, telling me the same thing has happened to them, or they have had pictures taken down their shirts, and no one really knows what to do – and nor do the police.”

Currently, people who film up a person’s skirt can be charged for committing voyeurism or outraging public decency, but securing a conviction can be difficult. A festival would not fall under the remit of this law, while two or more people would have to see the photograph for it to come become a criminal offence of outraging public decency.

Mr Lidington’s intervention came after Richard Burgon, the shadow justice minister, said he had signed Ms Martin’s petition. He said: “This summer I was proud to sign up to the campaign so that the disgraceful practice known as upskirting was made a criminal offence.”

Mr Lidington said he was listening to representations “made not only by Gina Martin but from police and crime commissioners around the country”.