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Original poster

A bit of good news about 'upskirting'

84 replies

enoughisenoughtoday · 15/06/2018 10:18

It's going to be made a criminal offence with a 2 year jail sentence .
www.thetimes.co.uk/article/new-offence-of-upskirting-to-carry-two-year-jail-term-nmtjwtgt6?shareToken=515d5b6f7e9e27e09b4aa039fdabc2ef

Well done to all those women who have fought for this to happen

OP posts:
LighthouseSouth · 15/06/2018 11:04

I too didn't understand why a specific law was necessary - it could have been prosecuted under other laws in the first place.

notacooldad · 15/06/2018 11:00

Can anyone explain to me why this law was necessary? I don't understand how it could possibly have been legal before. Am I just being incredibly naive?

I have had that point for a long time.

I remember asking my son ( with me playing devils advocate) asking what he thought and like everyone decent minded person said 'it's sexual harassment, aren't there laws already in place about this?'

However it's great news.

ChickenMe · 15/06/2018 10:58

Can anyone explain to me why this law was necessary? I don't understand how it could possibly have been legal before. Am I just being incredibly naive?

I'm not too sure what the loop holes were. There was always "outraging public decency" to prosecute for and surely, if the victim was aware of it, a public order offence? Presumably there were cases that didn't fit either offence but "outraging.." is really broad (some fascinating case law on "outraging.." included prosecution of someone who made earrings out of aborted foetuses)

Prawnofthepatriarchy · 15/06/2018 10:56

That's excellent news.

ChickenMe · 15/06/2018 10:53

That's really good - then there will be no ambiguities. I understand they get a fair bit of this on the trains.

In this case an ex-social worker was convicted and the transport police searched his house:

www.communitycare.co.uk/2013/12/16/social-worker-caught-taking-photos-womans-skirt-train-platform-struck-register/

(There's a better story in the DM)

silkpyjamasallday · 15/06/2018 10:31

It is good news, it will be interesting to see how many prosecutions there are for this sort of crime though, considering how easily rapists avoid being punished for their crimes. I saw a petition to make unsolicited ‘dick pics’ a criminal offense too, akin to flashing,hopefully in light of this it will actually make it to legislation too.

daimbars · 15/06/2018 10:26

Excellent news! Something we can all agree on at least.

BarbarianMum · 15/06/2018 10:25

Can anyone explain to me why this law was necessary? I don't understand how it could possibly have been legal before. Am I just being incredibly naive?

Ereshkigal · 15/06/2018 10:20

That's great. Something good Smile