Launch of ‘Don’t do it. Don’t tolerate it’ public awareness campaign for new sexual offences

The Department of Justice has launched a campaign to raise awareness of new offences in the Justice (Sexual Offences and Trafficking Victims) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 which it recently brought into operation.

The new offences seek to address specific acts commonly referred to as “upskirting,” “downblousing” and “cyber flashing.”

The ‘Don’t do it. Don’t tolerate it’ campaign warns that behaviour of this kind is a crime and there are serious consequences for those who carry it out - a penalty of up to two years’ imprisonment and the potential to be placed on the sex offender register.

The campaign also advises victims of this behaviour, as well as anyone witnessing an act, “Don’t tolerate it, Report it.”

The four-month long campaign is running across a wide range of outdoor spaces and on social media.  It will include information on how to access support or report the crime. 

Richard Pengelly CB, Permanent Secretary, Department of Justice said: “Upskirting, downblousing and cyberflashing are highly intrusive acts which can have a devastating impact on victims.  The purpose of this campaign is to emphasise that behaviour of this kind is a crime and will not be tolerated.

“I would strongly urge anyone who is a victim of such an act, or who witnesses it happening, to report it to police and seek support.  Reports will be taken seriously.

“My warning to those who think about carrying this out is that there are serious consequences to your actions.”

Further details can be found on the nidirect website  

Notes to editors: 

1.  The two images are from the new Department of Justice ‘Don’t do it, Don’t tolerate it’ public awareness campaign, which will run until March 2024.  It involves outdoor as well as social media advertising. 

2.  Outdoor will comprise a wide range of digital display and panel advertising across Northern Ireland to include in public houses (washrooms), areas of public transport (rail and bus) and shopping centres.

3.  Social media platforms comprise YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat as well as placement on Google Ads. 

4.  This campaign was developed in conjunction with key criminal justice and voluntary sector partners, and was supported with a contribution from the Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland.

5.  The Justice (Sexual Offences and Trafficking Victims) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 received Royal Assent on 27 April 2022. The provisions have been implemented in three key stages, and the commencement of these provisions marks the final stage of implementation of the Act.

6.  Media enquiries should be directed to the Department of Justice Press Office via Email 

7.  The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours’ service for media enquiries only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted out of hours on 028 9037 8110.

8. Follow us on Twitter/X @Justice_NI

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