Devon & Cornwall Police Launch ‘It Does Matter’ Campaign to Tackle Non-Contact Sexual Offences

Have you ever dismissed an unsettling experience as a joke or something not serious enough to report? Many people do – but Devon & Cornwall Police want that to change.

This week, the force launched the ‘It Does Matter’ campaign to raise awareness about non-contact sexual offences, such as exposure and voyeurism, encouraging victims to come forward and report these crimes.

The Scale of the Problem

Last year, 540 non-contact sexual offences were reported in Devon and Cornwall, with indecent exposure and sharing indecent images being the most common. The most prolific offenders were aged between 26 and 45, while the majority of victims were under 18 – though reports came from all age groups.

Despite the disturbing nature of these offences, many victims don’t report them. Nationally, statistics from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in 2023 revealed that over 12,000 exposure and voyeurism offences have been recorded annually by police in England and Wales since April 2021. Yet, this represents fewer than 6% of the estimated total incidents, highlighting just how many go unreported.

Why Reporting Matters

Cases such as the tragic murders of Libby Squire in 2019, Sarah Everard in 2021, and Zara Aleena in 2022 have shed light on the dangers of allowing non-contact sexual offences to go unchallenged. Each of these women lost their lives at the hands of men who had a history of committing these offences.

Detective Superintendent Nicky Seager stressed the importance of recognising these crimes as serious, saying:

“We want to make it clear: it is serious and it does matter.”

She explained that the campaign is aimed at people aged 18 to 24, but applies to all ages.

“Many women and girls will have been subjected to non-contact sexual offences during their lives. This is likely to include your family and friends. Many will have brushed it off as something that happens to all women, or found that others have laughed at their stories, making them question how serious it is.”

By encouraging victims to report indecent exposure and voyeurism, police hope to track patterns of offending and prevent escalation to more serious crimes.

Victims Speak Out

Rebecca (name changed for privacy), an 18-year-old college student, shared her experience:

“My friends and I didn’t know that this sort of thing was a crime. We often feel that we just have to put up with this sort of behaviour, that it’s part of growing up or being a woman.”

She added:

“Sometimes we feel like it’s just us and it doesn’t happen to others and we just have to put up with it and cope with the upset and uncomfortable feelings it causes. Those feelings shouldn’t go unnoticed. Catcalling and upskirting and other things should be reported. No matter how small it seems or that we are told it doesn’t matter – it does matter.”

Authorities Take a Stand

Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez welcomed the campaign, stating:

“Any form of sexual violence, whether physical or non-physical, is unacceptable. Unwanted sexual behaviour, including voyeurism, indecent exposure, spiking and upskirting, is never funny – it is extremely serious, and it is against the law.”

“The statistics around non-contact sexual offences are shocking, and I welcome this campaign which will help to educate people, especially young women and girls, that what they have experienced is serious and does matter.”

She urged victims to report these crimes to help bring sexual predators to justice.

How to Report

If you have experienced a non-contact sexual offence, you can report it online via Devon & Cornwall Police’s website.

For victim support, contact the Victim Support Unit on 08 08 16 89 111.

In an emergency, always call 999.

To stay updated on the campaign, visit the ‘It Does Matter’ website

Speak Up, Stand Together, Stay Safe

By reporting non-contact sexual offences, victims can help prevent further harm, protect others, and ensure these crimes are taken seriously. As police make clear: It really does matter.