Peeping Toms who photograph sunbathers with cellphone cameras could face hefty fines or jail terms following a crackdown on the practice in Australia.
The first man to be arrested for surreptitious photography was charged with offensive behaviour by officers in Sydney at the weekend.
The 25-year-old was spotted on Saturday afternoon photographing topless sunbathers at Coogee Beach, a popular spot south of Bondi Beach in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
Witnesses alleged that he had been taking photographs while pretending to be on the phone. One witness, who grabbed the man round the throat when he saw him photographing his girlfriend, said he had claimed to be innocent when confronted.
Local police said it was the first time such sneak photography had resulted in the offensive behaviour charge, which carries a A$660 maximum fine or up to three months’ imprisonment.
”Police won’t tolerate incidents of this kind. While it’s a personal choice for female sunbathers to sunbathe topless … this type of incident is clearly an invasion of one’s privacy,” said Detective Inspector Peter Thorne.
Councils and swimming pool owners banned the use of camera phones in changing rooms last year because of fears they would be used to take secret photographs of bathers.
Five men were arrested in Queensland’s Gold Coast last December for using phone cameras to take pictures up the skirts of women and girls attending annual school-leavers’ celebrations. – Guardian Unlimited Â