Unveiling new safety measures across the capital today, the Mayor of London praised Metro’s investigation into an upskirting website showing hundreds of women and girls targeted.
A significant amount of the footage was taken in Stratford, as women shopped in Westfield or walked through the tube station.
But today, Sadiq Khan was in the same area to unveil a £15.6 million fund to improve safety in public spaces.
The fund is targeted specifically at making women feel safer, and includes more lighting in the evening, greenery kept high to stop predators hiding in shrubbery and more CCTV.
It follows Metro’s investigation into an upskirting website, which Mr Khan said left him feeling ‘sickened’.
He said: ‘It is not acceptable to see the website being monetised either. This is why we need to do more to tackle violence against women and girls.’
But is today’s plan enough to stop the upskirters from targeting more women and girls, let alone more serious attacks in the capital?
A £16.5 million fund for women’s safety
On a path next to the Olympic Park, large metal orbs have been strung up above the trees. They will emit soft light in the evening to deter predators from attacking under the cover of darkness.
Benches have also been transformed into large ‘sunlounger’ style, to stop anyone approaching from behind. Trees have been trimmed as high as they can, and CCTV cameras sit prominently above everything.
Although this makes the space less ideal for attackers to commit offences, the two men filming for the upskirting website were hardly deterred by lighting and cameras.
All of the videos were taken inside buildings or in broad daylight. Tube stations and Westfield are also covered in CCTV.
They used DJI Osmo Pocket cameras, which fit snugly into the palm of their hands, and followed their victims for minutes at a time amongst hundreds of people.
‘The problem goes to the heart of society’
But what compels people to film vulnerable people from intimate angles in the first place?
In the website uncovered by Metro, there is not only a $50 payment to access all of the footage, but gambling adverts also pop up – meaning the site has been monetised.
Whatever money earned from the site will hardly be enough to live on, though. Professor McGlynn suspects the real incentive behind the site is kudos from other men deep within the manosphere.
Gina Martin, who campaigned for upskirting to be made a specific offence in 2019, agrees.
She said: ‘The reason why I fought for the legislation in the first place was because it was already an epidemic – this is hardly a new thing.’
Before the invention of smartphones, men would place mirrors on their shoes to look up women’s skirts, Gina said.
‘Women’s bodies are seen as something to be consumed,’ she said. ‘It’s about dominance and power, and the advancement of technology is only incentivising it.’
So, what can actually be done?
But all is not lost. Although lawmakers struggle to keep pace with technology, positive change can happen on a smaller scale.
Professor McGlynn said: ‘If places are willing to adapt and prevent, then you are already in a better spot.’
In Newcastle, the city council dished out Community Protection Warnings to two people who were filming vulnerable people on the street.
The warnings stop the two accounts from filming, but can be escalated a formal Community Protection Notice, which is a criminal offence to breach.
Professor McGlynn said: ‘So there is something that can be done to have a quick impact. Businesses like Wetherspoons banning Meta glasses is also a positive step which should be followed.’
But the biggest change can come from early intervention. Teaching boys from a young age about misogynistic behaviours can help prevent future criminal behaviour.
Gina said: ‘We need primary prevention, more education, and work from institutions to the top level of government.
‘If not, this is going to keep happening, and we will only be responding to crimes after they happen, rather than preventing them.’
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
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