Voyeurism offences have surged dramatically in parts of Somerset, Bristol, and neighboring areas over the last ten years. This disturbing increase coincides with a growing number of online clips showing women being secretly filmed during nights out.
Recent statistics from the Home Office reveal that crimes related to voyeurism and exposure recorded by Avon and Somerset Police have nearly doubled in the last decade. These offences, which are combined into a single category in official data, cannot be separated but collectively highlight a worrying trend.
Between the year ending March 2015 and the year ending March 2025, recorded incidents rose from 180 to 319 across Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire—an alarming 77% increase. Notably, Bristol alone reported 191 offences last year, the highest number in the South West and ranking sixth across England and Wales. Comparable figures in South Gloucestershire and North Somerset were 69 and 59 respectively.
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Many of these crimes involve covert filming of women—often intoxicated or dressed revealingly—without their consent. Such videos continue to surface on mainstream social media platforms, attracting millions of views and disturbing misogynistic comments. One recently established channel amassed over 300 million views within just four months.
In a landmark case last November, a man was arrested in Manchester on suspicion of voyeurism and harassment related to secretly filmed nightlife videos shared online. He remains on bail as investigations continue, marking the first of its kind linked to viral social media content.
Victims who experience being filmed in ways that cause alarm or distress are urged to report these crimes to the police immediately. Each case is examined individually, as some incidents may also fall under stalking or harassment laws and warrant investigation.
Platforms like YouTube, owned by Google, provide privacy complaint procedures enabling users to flag unauthorized content featuring their images or personal information.
Voyeurism involves deriving sexual gratification from watching, photographing, or recording individuals in private situations without their consent—for example, when they are naked or engaged in sexual activity. This includes offences such as “upskirting,” where images are taken covertly under clothing.
The data groups voyeurism with exposure offences, which involve intentionally exposing genitals to cause harm or distress. Both crimes carry a maximum sentence of two years imprisonment, underscoring the seriousness of these violations.