Police
ask doggers to 'change their behaviour'
But it is not at all clear that 'well behaved' doggers
are doing anything illegal
Thanks to
Melanie & Adams Place
See also
UK Dogging Law
See also
Discussion about legality of dogging
The police have issued the following
letter on the subject of action against dogging on Otterspool Promenade:
Policing Operation In Otterspool
Promenade
Merseyside Police is undertaking an operation from the 2nd April to
tackle the illegal sexual activity in the area of Otterspool
promenade, after complaints from local residents.
The 2nd April will see covert and overt patrols policing the area in
order to tackle the problem and support the regeneration work going on
in the area, which will attract more tourists to this natural beauty
spot.
In partnership with the City Council and Citysafe, the operation also
aims at tackling the under reporting of crime against individuals who
frequent the area for illegal sexual activity. Organisations like
Armistead, the gay and bi-sexual support group for men, say that
criminals in the area are targeting their members, but many are not
reporting them to the police for fear of prosecution.
The operation does not aim to target any sexual group and much of the
sexual activity going on in the area, is carried out by heterosexual
couples and not by the gay community.
To enable individuals to change their behaviour prior to the start of
the operation, a wide range of communication materials are being used
to ensure people have an opportunity to change their behaviour without
the need for police intervention.
Highly visible signage has been put up in the area to ensure that
people are aware of the operation and so that anyone that sees
anything knows how to report this to the police. Local residents are
also being leafleted in the area to ensure they are aware that
Merseyside Police and its partners are tackling the problem.
Melanie & Adams Place have a page on
UK Dogging Law:
The relevant section of the 2003 Sex
Act to doggers is Section 66 Exposure and Section 67 Voyeurism.
2003 Sex Act - Section 66 : Exposure
(1) A person commits an offence if-
(a) he intentionally exposes his genitals, and
(b) he intends that someone will see them and be caused alarm or
distress.
(2) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable-
(a) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6
months or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or both;
(b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not
exceeding 2 years.
2003 Sex Act - Section 67 : Voyeurism
(1) A person commits an offence if-
(a) for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification, he observes
another person doing a private act, and
(b) he knows that the other person does not consent to being observed
for his sexual gratification.
(2) A person commits an offence if-
(a) he operates equipment with the intention of enabling another
person to observe, for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification,
a third person (B) doing a private act, and
(b) he knows that B does not consent to his operating equipment with
that intention.
(3) A person commits an offence if-
(a) he records another person (B) doing a private act,
(b) he does so with the intention that he or a third person will, for
the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification, look at an image of B
doing the act, and
(c) he knows that B does not consent to his recording the act with
that intention.
(4) A person commits an offence if he instals equipment, or constructs
or adapts a structure or part of a structure, with the intention of
enabling himself or another person to commit an offence under
subsection (1).
(5) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable-
(a) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6
months or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or both;
(b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not
exceeding 2 years.
Under Section 66, doggers are
at risk of the law if it is their intention to cause alarm or distress
to members of the public. So, if you take reasonable precautions to make
sure that you are well out of public view, you should be fine.
Essentially, this means only go dogging at night, away from residential
areas and well away from the major carparks where anyone could turn up.
If you use the carparks as a general meeting area, then move on to a
more discreet location to play, you're taking steps to ensure no one is
offended.
Under Section 67, doggers are only at risk if they approach
couples having sex in cars that are not doggers, and therefore not
consenting, but are just simply courting couples. A large number of
dogging locations have grown from well established lovers lanes and gay
cruising areas, so there is a potential risk of being in breach of
section 67. Luckily, the signals used in dogging establish the consent
of the couple wanting people to watch them have sex, and therefore
section 67 no longer applies as long as you only approach cars that have
signalled to you.
See also
Melanie & Adams Place which has a relevant
Discussion about legality of dogging