MPs back victim's calls for 'upskirting' to be made a sex offence

Speaking out: Gina Martin

An “upskirting” victim campaigning for changes to sexual offence laws is a step closer to success after a group of MPs backed her petition.

Gina Martin, 25, was appalled that the man who took a photo up her skirt at a music festival in Hyde Park this summer “faced no consequences”, so set up a petition calling for “upskirting” to be added to the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

It has now amassed more than 71,000 signatures.

Ms Martin, a writer, was told that despite the picture potentially falling under the offence of “outraging public decency” in England and Wales, it did not qualify as a sexual offence because she was wearing underwear.

The Met closed her case five days later.

However, under Scottish law “upskirting” is a sexual offence and today all 12 Scottish Conservative backbench MPs announced their support for Ms Martin’s campaign.

Gina Martin set up a petition online

Aberdeen South MP Ross Thomson has also written to Secretary of State for Justice David Liddington about the issue.

Mr Thomson said: “Gina is one of thousands of women who are abused in this way every year.

“Stamping down harder on this type of offending will send a message that women’s bodies are not property and sexual assault is not a prank.”

Ms Martin told the Standard: “I think women in general are told to brush off something like having a pervy photo taken of you as if it’s not a massive deal, but it’s harassment and it’s happening all the time.

“I am delighted to have secured support from Scottish Conservative MPs, and we’re looking forward to securing support from their English counterparts in the days ahead.

“It is important that the law recognises this as a sexual offence and not a public nuisance, so that women of England and Wales are supported just as Scottish women are.”

Ryan Whelan, of Gibson Dunn, representing Ms Martin, added: “While it may take time to work through the detail of law reform, we see no reason why the Government should not make a decision in principle immediately.”

The 12 Scottish Conservative MPs who have backed the campaign are: Andrew Bowie, Colin Clark, David Duguid, Luke Graham, Bill Grant, Kirstene Hair, Alister Jack, Stephen Kerr, John Lamont, Paul Masterton, Douglas Ross and Mr Thomson.

View the petition here.

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