People who take pictures up women’s skirts could now face up to two years in prison, as a bill on “upskirting” passed its final reading in the House of Lords on Tuesday.
Upskirting will now become a criminal act in England and Wales (it’s already illegal in Scotland) after a campaign from 26-year-old Gina Martin.
Martin, who was upskirted at a music festival in 2017, started the #stopskirtingtheissue campaign which reached over 100,000 signatures.
It was taken through Commons as a private member’s bill by Wera Hobhouse, the Liberal Democrat MP for Bath but was objected by the filibustering MP Christoper Chope during the summer.
With government intervention, it was backed as part of a drive to combat sexual violence and gender inequality and will come under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 when it reaches Royal Assent in the spring.
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 (@ginamartinuk) January 15, 2019
