The Daily Telegraph

Child aged 10 victim of ‘upskirt’ photos

- By Olivia Rudgard SOCIAL AFFAIRS CORRESPOND­ENT

CHILDREN as young as 10 have been victims of “upskirt” photograph­y, police figures show as campaigner­s call for a new crime to be created.

The first official figures showing the scale of the issue revealed that police recorded at least 78 cases in the past two years and 11 suspects were charged.

The cases included a 10-year-old and a 14-year-old, who Avon and Somerset police said were the victims of alleged offences which had not progressed because of insufficie­nt evidence.

Campaigner­s said the true number is likely to be much higher, given the difficulti­es with police being able to log and investigat­e in many cases. There is no specific offence covering the behaviour so alleged offenders have to be prosecuted under public decency laws or under charges of voyeurism.

Clare Mcglynn, professor of law at Durham University and an expert on sexual violence, said: “The Government’s continuing failure to provide an effective criminal law against upskirting breaches women’s human rights.”

Tory MP Maria Miller, who chairs the women and equalities select committee, said it was “concerning” if the police felt the law did not give them adequate powers to stop the “horrific crime of upskirting”.

Sarah Green, for the End Violence Against Women coalition, described the figures as “very concerning” and said “the law should be urgently examined in this area”.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: “Prosecutor­s have a range of powers... We continue to keep legislatio­n under constant review to ensure we can bring offenders to justice.”

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