Upskirting

Upskirting is an absolutely unacceptable practice and I am determined to ensure that such an intrusive act is tackled robustly. There should be no doubt that such acts are illegal and will not be tolerated.

I am sympathetic to calls for a change in the law, and as I understand it officials in the Ministry of Justice are reviewing the current law to make sure that it is fit for purpose. As part of that work, the Government is considering the Private Member’s Bill you have mentioned.

I should also highlight that there are instances in which people have been successfully prosecuted for upskirting in the context of outraging public decency, and voyeurism can also apply under the Sexual Offences Act 2003. However, those offences do not necessarily cover every instance of upskirting, which is why there is a strong case for looking at the law and considering whether it needs to be changed.