Upskirting case levels do not reflect number of incidents, Lib Dems claim

There are still only an average of 38 upskirting cases a year being passed to prosecutors despite an increase in voyeurism over the last decade, the Scottish Liberal Democrats have claimed.

Deputy Scottish party leader and former police officer Wendy Chamberlain has said she believes the number of upskirting charges being passed to the Crown Office “do not reflect the number of actual incidents”.

Ms Chamberlain said an average of just 38 charges per year are being passed to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS).

A Scottish Liberal Democrat freedom of information request revealed that between 2018 and October 2025, 302 charges of upskirting were reported to the Crown Office. This is calculated to an average of 38 a year.

Some 32 charges of upskirting were passed to the Crown Office between January and October 2025 and 53 upskirting charges were passed in 2024.

Annual recorded crime statistics published in early 2025 showed there has been a 208% surge in voyeurism crime recorded by the police over the last decade.

Ms Chamberlain said: “Given the sharp increase in voyeurism over the last decade, it’s very likely that the number of charges being passed to the Crown Office do not reflect the number of actual incidents.

“There are still many obstacles to successfully investigating and prosecuting cases of upskirting. These range from victims struggling to come forward, to evidential challenges and a lack of proper police resources.

“As a particularly insidious form of sexual assault that can have longlasting effects on victims, upskirting offences should be taken seriously. We need to have a robust system that will create a deterrent for perpetrators and give victims the confidence that their cases will be dealt with.”

The Scottish Liberal Democrats have called for a review of the law surrounding such crimes which at present only covers images obtained for motives of sexual gratification or causing distress.

Ms Chamberlain continued: “Scottish Liberal Democrats want to see change with fairness at its heart, which is why we will continue to press the Scottish Government to review the law in this area, allowing more cases to be reported to the Crown Office.

“We have a realistic plan to give police and prosecutors the resources they need to do their jobs and ensure people are protected from these crimes.”

In April 2025 a man from Stirling was sentenced for installing cameras under the desk of a female colleague.

In May 2025, a doctor was jailed for hiding recording devices in staff accommodation at Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009 makes upskirting a criminal offence. This traumatic behaviour invades a person’s privacy and it is right the law is able to be used to hold perpetrators to account which this data shows.

“The Scottish Government takes all forms of abuse and violence against women and girls extremely seriously, and always encourages anyone who has been a victim to seek support and contact the police. We are investing a record £1.64 billion in policing – an increase of £90 million on last year.”

A spokesperson for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service said: “COPFS is committed to prosecuting sexual crime rigorously and fairly while ensuring victims are treated with dignity throughout the process. Every report of alleged criminal conduct we receive is carefully considered by prosecutors.”