Less than 20% of Wiltshire indecent exposure cases end with charges

Home Office figures show that's higher than the national average though

Author: Faye TryhornPublished 10th Jan 2022

A total of 85 voyeurism and indecent exposure incidents were reported to Wiltshire Police in the year to March 2021.

That number has stayed steady compared to the previous year (86 reported incidents).

But just 17% of these kinds of cases closed during the same period resulted in a suspect being charged or summonsed to court (16 out of 95 investigations).

Across England and Wales, 14% of indecent exposure or voyeurism incidents ended with a charge or court summons in 2020-21.

Nationally, 40% of cases are dropped due to difficulties in gathering evidence, while 15% are closed after a suspect can't be identified.

Campaigners say the figures suggest that a 'radical overhaul' is needed in the way police forces respond to such incidents.

The group End Violence Against Women and Girls has called for more research into the response to what they describe as 'lower level' sex offences and whether that could lead to male suspects who go onto commit more serious crimes.

Deputy director Deniz Ugur said:

"It's abundantly clear the current system is failing women and girls when incidents like street harassment, groping and flashing are almost universally experienced by women and girls across their lifetimes, and then are so often trivialised or dismissed if reported."

A Government spokeswoman said police forces 'must tackle violence against women and girls head on'.

She said the Government is funding a new national policing lead to tackle violence against women and girls in recognition of the seriousness of the issue and the need to drive improvements:

"We expect forces to take the necessary action to treat reports of these crimes with the care and sensitivity they deserve.”