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CRUISING, COTTAGING, AND VOYEURISM

Voyeurism

Voyeurism is gaining sexual pleasure from watching or recording other people engaged in sex and/ or intimate behaviour or other activities of a private nature. Voyeurism, by its nature, implies that one party doesn't consent to the activity but can be a legitimate form of sexual expression if ALL parties give consent.

The law

Introduced in 2019, an offence committed under the Voyeurism Offences Act must meet the following criteria:

The aim of the voyeur is sexual pleasure or gratification.
No consent is given by the person being watched/ observed and/ or filmed.
The voyeurism is specifically aimed at genitalia or underwear.

The Act explicitly addresses ‘upskirting’, which is a variation of voyeurism which refers to taking photos or videos underneath a person’s clothing. This usually occurs in public places with the intention of sexual pleasure/ gratification and/ or to embarrass/ humiliate a person.

Get professional legal advice at the earliest opportunity. Know your rights when questioned and/ or arrested. Anything you say may be used as evidence against you, and others.

Examples of voyeurism

Recording someone in a private act; eg: filming a person(s) having sex. This includes sex parties.
Installing camera equipment with the intention of recording someone in a private act; eg: in a bedroom, toilet, or bathroom. This includes sex parties.
Watching someone in a private act; eg: a person(s) through a window.

A private act is what a reasonable person would only do in private; eg: being naked or having sex by themselves and/ or with another person(s).

Cause for concern

Voyeurism may be a cause for concern, and you may need professional help, if you:

Violate a person’s expectation of privacy in their home, a gym, or a similar area.
Watch a person engage in sexual activity without their consent.
Begin filming or photographing another person without their permission.
Enter an area illegally in order to watch people.
Feel frustrated or stressed when you can’t engage in these behaviours.
Experience feelings of guilt after engaging in these behaviours.
You can’t get sexually aroused without watching others
You can’t resist voyeuristic activities, even when they harm your well-being.

Understanding Voyeurism | Healthline | US

More

Sexual Offences Act 2003; 71. Sexual activity in a public lavatory | GOV UK
Section 5(3) Criminal Law Act 1977 | GOV UK
Voyeurism (Offences) Act 2019 | GOV UK
DBS checks | MIND

Police warnings, cautions and fines | MENRUS.CO.UK
Sex and consent | MENRUS.CO.UK

Cottaging | Wikipedia
Cruising | Wikipedia
Voyeurism | Wikipedia

1982. Gay London Police Monitoring Group (GALOP) | Gay in the 80s
GALOP Annual Report 1984 | PDF | GALOP

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