We're almost conditioned to ignore indecent exposure

[RadioactiveWear]

Libby Squires's mum talks out about indecent exposure. This is an interesting article. In the past, I have been flashed etc. and I don't remember reporting it.

These incidents need reporting now, as clearly the behaviour escalates and the police need to be put on the spot to investigate. They could have stopped both this and Sarah Everard's murder if they had pulled these 2 men in on their behaviour and dealt with them in the first place.

This

I was ‘flashed’ recently by a man wanking at the street end of our garden. It’s a quiet lane used by a lot of children , women dog walkers, joggers etc. I wasn’t personally scared , but I was concerned that someone else might be if he hung around in future.

I reported it to the police. They Sent a proper police constable ( not a PCSO) who took a statement.

The police contacted me two or three times to say that they were pursuing it, and then that they had found the bloke who had accepted a caution.

so nothing to complain about the response there. I guess the flasher will be on the radar now, so hopefully will not escalate.

We take them seriously where we are. The problem you have is identifying the suspect - unless they are known to the victim/witnesses its very difficult trying to find a suspect from descriptions alone.

We see it as a gateway crime and often have the descriptions/locations passed to all officers on briefings so we can try and intercept them.

The problem is we are strapped for resources and can barely reach the other emergencies at present.

I reported being flashed at when I was 15, completely starkers bloke wanking in a balaclava with a distinctive tattoo, in an isolated alley near a school. The police laughed. They called him the 'phantom flasher of x town', said he was harmless and not to worry. And that was that. 30 years ago but I've never bothered reporting since.

There was Puppetry of the Penis back in the day, if someone knows what they are going to see before they hand over their money it is entirely different.

I think it is inappropriate to compare acts that are legal to actual sexual crimes (I didn't click the link so if that was an unexpected routine then you may have a point).

I was flashed at as a teenager when I was out with my friend. Reported it to my friend's dad who was a policeman who took it very seriously. We went out in the car looking for him but of course he was long gone. It was someone known to someone I know as it turned out and yes, his behaviour escalated.

I agree. I think we're conditioned to ignore men's bad behaviour generally. Right from "boys will be boys" onward."Ignore it- he's only doing it to get attention." When I was a young woman, we used to pride ourselves in talking about "clever" responses. "Oh look, it's like a penis but smaller!" but I don't think many of us dared to use them. And it's telling that it was a regular topic of conversation.

@Felix125 You might personally take them seriously but we all know that the Police have minimised the experiences of women forever.

The Police are completely untrustworthy as an institution, even if there are a few good apples in the barrel.

I have been flashed 3 times once as a child by a young man/ older teenager who asked me to show him my genitals to prove I was a girl. I didn’t but he showed me his anyway. He was about 12 feet away so I didn’t see much. I legged it. I regret not reporting this in hindsight. Twice as a backpacker once in Spain,’once in Italy. Very much the erect and mastrubating type of flasher, no I don’t want to try an Italian boy. I never reported any of them.

I remember being sat at the bottom of a grassy hill aged about 13, so a lot of years ago now. Hot summer day and I was with some friends - all girls

A man jogged past with shorts in and his t shirt in his hand. Ignored us totally

He got the the top of the hill and jogged back down and as he passed us this time, he had his shorts in his hand along with his top and gave us a cheery 'hello girls' as he jogged past, cock flapping about

I remember us all thinking this was hysterically funny at the time. Seemed so weird yet hilarious

I see it with different eyes now of course

Interestingly - a man sunbathing naked in his back garden and seen by a neighbour is prosecuted for indecent exposure.

A woman sunbathing naked in her back garden and seen by a neighbour - the neighbour is prosecuted for voyeurism.

Wow. Never thought of it like that!

I agree.

The other problem you have is naturists & nudists who can walk naked in the open. So long as its not done to offend anyone its perfectly legal. They don't have to be in camps or set areas.

I was once flashed on the way to work. The man was standing just off a secluded path very close to a private school and a training college, which was undoubtedly a deliberate choice of location. That's the main reason I phoned the police about it.

At least the police weren't dismissive - again, probably because of the location.

Wowzel
It'll be interesting to see what the police do with that footballer that was flashing in a bar earlier this week

If they receive a complaint, it should be investigated.

I was flashed in a park as a student, the police did turn up as he was flashing loads of people (most were laughing as students, no children around as I recall). It was a nice day, busy, he wasn’t close to anyone so I guess everyone felt ‘safe’. No idea if they caught him.
Agree it needs to be reported.

Happened to me in a park when I was about 12 or 13. Broad daylight on a weekend, so the park was fairly busy. Who knows how many other people saw him.

Is that really what happens? When have those prosecutions happened?

Men are such a gross species. Definitely not all men I know.
Imagine a woman doing that.

More likely the Police will take pictures of the woman and share on their Whatsapp group

I’ve had a few flashing incidents over the years. I reported most of them and had very different responses.

One of the flashing incidents which I was concerned about was played down by the park warden and the police officer attending wasn’t too bothered. The flasher had deliberately approached me whilst I was sat in my car in a quiet area. He’d likely pre planned this. The warden was adamant this incident wasn’t sinister and there was no real intent to disturb. I disagreed with the warden and explained that the man would’ve had to drive to this area. The man knew I was sat in the vehicle.

There was a man posting on MN a while ago about naked rambling and just refused to see that his desire to get his cock out in public was at odds with observing acceptable codes of behaviour - which made women afraid. It was his view that women were just wrong and it was perfectly natural for him to do this.
Most men just don't get it. Their needs trump all.

Could we have chapter and verse on this, please? Maybe examples of when it's happened?

I've never been flashed. I've been groped, sexually assaulted, verbally harassed, a man in his car making disgusting gestures with his tongue while waiting for a bus, all by strangers but never flashed.

CurlewKate

www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/section/67

There will be links to case law too

i have dealt with a few incidents of this happening, so it does happen from time to time. Can't disclose on here times, dates places etc as none of these have made the media.