I am delighted to host a guest blog by James Chalmers, Regius Professor of Law at the University of Glasgow, and Ryan Whelan, an Associate at Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher LLP. Readers may be aware of the events of recent days in relation to the campaign by Gina Martin to create a specific criminal offence to…
Read moreDon’t wear skirts, and nine other ways people can protect themselves from crime
Today marked a milestone in the magnificent campaign by Gina Martin to persuade Parliament to legislate against “upskirting”, the intrusive practice of taking photographs of a person under clothing (usually their skirt) without permission. A Private Member’s Bill to create a specific criminal offence of upskirting was introduced by Wera Hobhouse MP, before being blocked by…
Read moreUpskirting: Why a new law is needed to stop mobile phones being shoved up women’s skirts
It is rare that a new law actually solves anything. The easiest reach for a politician faced with a social scourge creeping up the news bulletins is to take to the streets and declare, in a giddy rush of Archimedean epiphany, that A New Law is required. This cry is the default eureka irrespective of whether…
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