Overview

This bill amends the Sexual Offences Act 2003 to create new offences relating to voyeurism. It criminalizes the act of operating or recording images under someone's clothing without their consent, for the purposes of sexual gratification or to humiliate, alarm, or distress the victim.

Description

The Voyeurism (Offences) (No. 2) Bill introduces two new offences under section 67A of the Sexual Offences Act 2003:

• Operating equipment under clothing: It becomes an offence to operate equipment (e.g., a camera) under another person's clothing without their consent to observe their genitals, buttocks, or underwear in circumstances where they wouldn't normally be visible. This includes enabling or securing the activation of the equipment by another person without their knowledge.
• Recording images under clothing: It also becomes an offence to record an image under another person's clothing without their consent, with the intention of viewing it for sexual gratification or to humiliate, alarm, or distress the victim.

The bill specifies penalties for these offences: up to 12 months imprisonment or a fine on summary conviction, and up to 2 years imprisonment on indictment. It also makes amendments to other legislation, including the Children and Young Persons Act 1933, the Criminal Justice Act 2003, and the Modern Slavery Act 2015, to ensure these new offences are incorporated into existing notification and sentencing frameworks.

Government Spending

The bill doesn't directly specify government spending figures. The impact will likely be related to increased enforcement costs (e.g., police investigations, court proceedings) and potentially increased prison population if convictions rise. No specific financial estimates are provided within the bill itself.

Groups Affected

• Potential victims of voyeurism: This bill offers increased legal protection and potential for prosecution against those who commit such acts.
• Perpetrators of voyeurism: They face potential prosecution and criminal penalties under the amended law.
• Law enforcement agencies (police): They will be responsible for enforcing the new laws.
• Courts and the justice system: The bill will increase their workload with new cases under the amended legislation.

Powered by nyModel