A man has been arrested over a series of viral social media posts filmed in Manchester city centre.
The videos usually show women, who are often intoxicated, during nights out in the city with the caption ‘Manchester nightlife’.
The MEN investigated the videos and found many women had been filmed without their knowledge, sometimes in vulnerable positions.
More explicit videos were being shared behind paywalls, with footage zooming in on women’s breasts and bottoms while they walk available for £13 per month subscriptions.
After passing on their findings to Greater Manchester Police, a warrant was carried out in Bradford this morning after a suspect was traced. He has been arrested on suspicion of stalking and harassment.
It is understood to be the first arrest in the country linked with viral videos on social media platforms filming women on nights out.
The videos, which have racked up millions of views, have also been taken in London, Liverpool, and Leeds.
The force said: ‘This morning we’ve arrested a 27-year-old man in Bradford on suspicion of stalking and harassment, in connection with several reports of women being followed, filmed, and harassed in Manchester City Centre.
‘This arrest is thought to be the first in the country linked with several viral videos on social media platforms appearing to have filmed women on nights out, some whilst in vulnerable positions.
‘As well as the widely viewed videos posted publicly, through further investigation, we found more content locked under paywalled accounts which included footage of suspected non-consensual nudity and upskirting.
‘After the issue was first brought to our attention, we made several appeals for anyone directly impacted by these videos to come forward.
‘Many women did so, explaining the fear this had created for them, and the impact on their feeling of being safe whilst out at night.
‘Over the past few months, our neighbourhood team have worked in close consultation with the CPS to understand what next steps we could take with the reports received.
‘The videos in Manchester were primarily filmed around the Peter Street and Deansgate areas.’
Chief Inspector Stephen Wiggins added: ‘We took the concerns of the public really seriously on this issue, and have worked hard with partners to assess the full circumstances and what courses of action were available to us.
‘It is a very new and complex issue, but this is a significant development.
‘Everyone has the right to feel safe as they enjoy a night out, and these videos have made people, particularly women, not feel like that, which we can’t tolerate.
‘Filming in public is legal, however where this filming crosses the line into offences such as upskirting, stalking or harassment, it’s important that we don’t allow that behaviour.
‘Every Friday and Saturday there are approximately 60 officers on patrol around our city centre hotspots, also with support from partners, charities, and volunteers.
‘Collectively, we are all on the look out for any behaviour that appears predatory in nature, proactively challenging that behaviour and safeguarding anyone who is vulnerable.
‘Particularly as we enter one of our busiest periods in the year, Christmas and New Year, I want to reassure the public that Manchester City Centre’s night life is safe, and they can expect us to take action against anyone who threatens that.
‘We would continue to encourage anyone who has personally been impacted by the content within these videos to come forward to us, so we can record these reports and assist with our ongoing investigations’.
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