A 27-year-old man has been taken into custody on suspicion of stalking and harassment in Manchester city centre

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.

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.

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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.

  • swampwitch@lemmy.worldEnglish
    51·
    13 days ago

    Probably if they’re following the person/group and interacting with them in some way. The article specifically mentions upskirting, which requires obvious motion. Cameras following you despite moving away also makes it pretty obvious. If you’re in a state of partial nudity for whatever reason your drunk brain has decided, and somebody is persistently filming you, you have every right to feel concerned about it.

    If some dude is talking to himself and live blogging it’s probably not as suspicious, unless he specifically starts mentioning the women in his recording.

    Either way, reviewing the footage will clear or condemn them. I’m personally on the side of better safe than sorry since they’ve mentioned this behaviour has led to further harassment.