Video voyeurs are getting away with “upskirting” offences in Scotland with few cases making it to court despite over 500 alleged crimes being reported to the police in the last year.
Liam McArthur MSP has highlighted how only five per cent of cases reach court as the incidences of men using their mobile phones to film up under women’s skirts continue to rise.
The Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesman made the call after a freedom of information request revealed that while 547 upskirting crimes were reported to the police in 2021-22, just 29 of them were subsequently reported to the Crown Office.
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McArthur said: “The shockingly low number of cases being passed to the Crown Office indicates that perpetrators are still getting away with it.”
“These figures should embarrass the government and certainly tarnish the SNP’s record when it comes to safeguarding victims of sexual abuse. Women and girls in this country should not be expected to endure such horrific violations.”
MacArthur said that an increase in the number of cases reported appeared to show women were more confident about reporting incidents of upskirting but that was not being matched by the legal response.
He said: “The nature of these offences means that victims already feel a sense of shame when reporting them to the police.”
“The government will only discourage victims from speaking out if they do not close the loopholes which prevent upskirting offences from being reported to the COPFS.
“We need the government to take these offences seriously. They compromise the safety and dignity of women and constitute a form of harassment that for too long has been ignored.
The Lib Dems previously revealed that between the law being introduced in 2010 and 2018, it had led to an average of 3.5 prosecutions and 3.2 convictions per year.
Independent expert analysis has suggested there are loopholes in the law, which at present only covers images obtained for motives of sexual gratification or causing distress.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “It is important that we continue to listen to the experience of victims and their families, and consider any further improvements that can be made.
“In Scotland ‘up-skirting’ has been a criminal offence since 2010, when the Sexual Offences Act came into effect. It is also an offence to share intimate images of a person without their consent. We keep the law under continual review to ensure that it is effective.
“Anyone who believes they have been the victim of any such crime, or has information relating to any allegations, should contact the police immediately.”
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