A man has become the first in the UK to be arrested over videos filmed of women on nights out without their consent, with some in vulnerable states.
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The 27-year-old from Bradford was taken into custody on suspicion of stalking and harassment after reports of women being followed, filmed and harassed in Manchester city centre.
In April, a number of women spoke to the Guardian after being filmed without their knowledge and consent, with the videos being posted on social media. In some cases, the women were later identified and harassed online.
Some victims described it as “disgusting” and said they felt violated on finding out videos of them had been viewed hundreds of thousands of times and attracted misogynistic comments.
Though filming on a public street is not a crime, it can cross the line into harassment, and women who discovered they had been targeted were asked to report it to police.
Greater Manchester police (GMP) said they had received a number of reports and, while investigating, found more content locked under paywalled accounts, which included footage of suspected non-consensual nudity and upskirting.
The arrest is thought to be the first of its kind in the country linked with viral videos of women filmed on nights out, some of them while drunk or alone on the street.
GMP said: “After the issue was first brought to our attention, we made several appeals for anyone directly impacted by these videos to come forward. Many women did so, explaining the fear this had created for them, and the impact on their feeling of being safe while out at night.”
Over the past few months, neighbourhood police officers worked with the CPS to see if charges could be brought against any of the accused.
The videos in Manchester were primarily filmed around the Peter Street and Deansgate areas, while videos were also filmed in cities such as Liverpool and London.
Ch Insp Stephen Wiggins said: “We took the concerns of the public really seriously on this issue, and have worked hard with partners to assess the full circumstances and what courses of action were available to us. It is a very new and complex issue, but this is a significant development.
“Everyone has the right to feel safe as they enjoy a night out, and these videos have made people, particularly women, not feel like that, which we can’t tolerate.
“Filming in public is legal. However, where this filming crosses the line into offences such as upskirting, stalking or harassment, it’s important that we don’t allow that behaviour.”
He said about 60 GMP officers patrolled hotspots on Friday and Saturday nights alongside charities and volunteers, challenging “any behaviour that appears predatory in nature” and safeguarding anyone who is vulnerable.
“Particularly as we enter one of our busiest periods in the year, Christmas and new year, I want to reassure the public that Manchester city centre’s night life is safe, and they can expect us to take action against anyone who threatens that.”
The man remains in custody for questioning, police said. They said they were continuing to encourage anyone who had been affected to come forward.
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