Police tell indecent exposure witnesses to "use a different path"

Tuesday, 25th November 2008

Written by Francesca Cookney

A woman and her teenage daughter who stumbled upon two men having sex on a public footpath were advised by the police to take a different route.

Marie Cragg, 44, was walking her teenage daughter to school when they discovered two semi-naked men having sex in broad daylight. "I called the police and never heard anything back," said Ms Cragg. "Then later I was talking to the community support officers and they said they knew what went on and I should change our walk." Outraged, she added: "These two men saw me and didn't care and just carried on […] It's ridiculous. If it's a public path then people should be allowed to walk there in safety."

The local Lancashire area seems to have become increasingly popular for cruising, with nearby Valentines Road closed in 2006 after it was found that it was being used as a place to park and meet strangers for sex.

Likewise, public toilets in Laneshawbridge, near Colne, faced closure after reports of cottaging. Having sex in public is illegal under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 and those caught can be arrested for outraging public decency, voyeurism, or indecent exposure but Deputy Chief Constable Mike Cunningham infuriated locals last month by saying that arresting should be a last resort.

Nevertheless, says local councillor Jim Hothersall, "it certainly should not be ignored, and for the police to suggest that [Ms Cragg] should take a different route is just an opt out. That is not acceptable."

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