A 27-year-old man in the UK has been arrested and charged by police for filming viral videos of vulnerable women on nights out in Manchester.
The male from Bradford is being questioned after he was arrested on suspicion of stalking and har@ssment on Wednesday morning, a spokesman for Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said.
The force said it launched a probe after reports of women being followed, filmed, and harassed in Manchester city centre and has since uncovered content, accessible through a paywall, containing suspected upskirting and non-consensual nudity.
The videos reportedly gained millions of views after being uploaded to TikTok, YouTube , and Instagram and attracted a number of misogynistic comments, reports the BBC.
A spokesman for GMP said the arrest was thought to be the first in the country linked to videos on social media platforms that appear to film women who are on nights out, some while in vulnerable positions.
Appeals for people to come forward if they have been affected by the videos, primarily filmed around the Peter Street and Deansgate areas of the city, led to many women contacting police to explain the ‘fear’ it had created for them, the spokesman added.
Chief Inspector Stephen Wiggins said: ‘We took the concerns of the public really seriously on this issue, and have worked hard with partners to assess the full circumstances and what courses of action were available to us.
‘It is a very new and complex issue but this is a significant development.
‘Everyone has the right to feel safe as they enjoy a night out and these videos have made people, particularly women, not feel like that, which we can’t tolerate.
‘Filming in public is legal, however where this filming crosses the line into offences such as upskirting, stalking or harassment, it’s important that we don’t allow that behaviour.
‘Every Friday and Saturday there are approximately 60 officers on patrol around our city centre hotspots, also with support from partners, charities, and volunteers.
‘Collectively, we are all on the look-out for any behaviour that appears predatory in nature, proactively challenging that behaviour and safeguarding anyone who is vulnerable.
‘Particularly as we enter one of our busiest periods in the year, Christmas and New Year, I want to reassure the public that Manchester city centre’s nightlife is safe, and they can expect us to take action against anyone who threatens that.’