New legislation was passed today by the House of Lords to make upskirting a crime in England and Wales.
The new law is still waiting for Royal Assent, but once approved will see offenders face up to two years in prison.
The campaign to make upskirting illegal was started by Gina Martin, a 26-year-old woman who was upskirted at the 2017 British Summertime music festival and was horrified to discover the police could do nothing.
It wasn’t long before the campaign was picked up by Lib Dem MP Wera Hobhouse, who brought a private members’ bill forwards after Gina’s petition received 50,000 signatures in a matter of days.
However, the bill was blocked after Conservative MP Christopher Chope objected, a move which prompted an anonymous protested to hang knickers on his office door.
Good to see some redecorating happening in my corridor over the weekend. Christopher Chope's door looking much better. pic.twitter.com/oPn27UCAN3
— Caroline Lucas (@CarolineLucas) June 18, 2018
Despite the single objection, the bill got government backing in June last year after Theresa May called upskirting a “hideous invasion of privacy which leaves victims feeling degraded and distressed”, and vowed that her government would push the law change through parliament.
Upskirting has been an offence in Scotland since 2010 after it became included under the branch of ‘voyeurism’, however laws in England and Wales mean that voyeurism can only apply to filming actions taking place in private.
I couldn't have done this without my laywer and friend @ryantwhelan (@gibsondunn) the support of @hollywills, @Schofe @lucyfrazermp and @RossThomson_MP. ?? pic.twitter.com/jsLjuKfP6b
— Gina Martin (@ginamartin_uk) January 15, 2019
By Katie Ansell