‘Upskirting’ becomes illegal as GMP record six incidents in 2018

Upskirting is now a crime, punishable by up to two-years in prison

So-called ‘upskirting’ is now a criminal offence as of this morning (Friday 12th April) as figures revealed Greater Manchester Police recorded six incidents in 2018 alone.

From today anyone found to have taken a picture under the clothes of another person without their permission can be jailed for up to two-years and be added to the sex offenders register, it follows a successful campaign by Gina Martin.

She became a victim when two people took pictures up her skirt during a festival in 2017.

To mark the act of ‘Upskirting’ becoming a criminal offence under the Voyeurism Act, figures obtained by the Press Association as part of a Freedom of Information request shows that in 2018 Greater Manchester Police recorded six incidents.

Half of those were in March alone.

This included a “call made with good intent” to police, and another case of someone taking an upskirt photo while on the tram.

Three of the incidents were not considered a crime, while there was no suspect identified in the other three – meaning police were unable to prosecute.

Elsewhere in the country, Police forces recorded a variety of ‘Upskirting’ ranging from a 70-year old woman in Essex being among the three complainants to the force. While another incident in the same region involved upskirt images of a child, aged between seven and nine – the suspect was charged with an offence relating to indecent photographs.

In Leicestershire the force recorded six incidents including one where schoolgirls said their teacher had taken pictures up their skirts in the classroom. The case resulted in a conditional caution and was investigation under the obscene publications act.

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