In 2017 a man put his phone between Gina Martin’s legs and took a photo without her consent. ‘I felt so unsafe,’ she told Metro. ‘His hand had been next to my vagina and I had no idea.’. She had been attending the British Summer Time festival in London’s Hyde Park when the incident occurred, and boldly snatched the man’s phone before running off in search of help.
![[Gina Martin poses for a portrait in London]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/GettyImages-1052775296.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
Gina, who was just 25 at the time, went to the police but was quickly informed there was nothing they could do. She had been wearing underwear at the time and he hadn’t touched her – meaning an offence hadn’t been committed. Horrified by the incident she launched a campaign and soon 50,000 people were calling for her case to be reopened and for upskirting to be made a criminal offence in England and Wales.
![[Gisele Pelicot looks on at the Avignon courthouse for the trial of her former partner Dominique Pelicot]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/GettyImages-2188888244.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
After gaining the support of MPs, Gina was able to bring a private members’ bill to parliament. It was initially blocked by a Tory backbench MP, but after this move was widely criticised, the bill made it through and the Voyeurism Act was introduced on 21 June 2018.
It came into force on 12 April 2019, and as a result, offenders now face up to two years in prison for taking an image or video under somebody’s clothing in order to see their genitals or underwear. While Gina’s work helped bring about major change, she acknowledges that there’s more still to be done, as there’s a much darker side to upskirting many aren’t aware of.
![[BRITAIN-LAW-ABUSE-WOMEN]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/GettyImages-1052775360.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
