Indecent exposure: a serious 'nuisance' offence

Indecent exposure is arguably the most under-researched of all sexual offences and is seen as a trivial offence within British society. This is despite academic evidence and the recent murder in London of Sarah Everard, which both demonstrate that the offence can be a pre-cursor to more serious offending. This viewpoint reviews relevant literature on indecent exposure and introduces small-scale research undertaken by the author. It critically explores the prevalence of indecent exposure and the impact this offence has on the victim. The risk of re-offending and escalation for relevant men is also considered, alongside motivations for this type of offending. Ultimately, it is suggested that indecent exposure being viewed as a ‘nuisance’ by society and the criminal justice system is problematic. Increased prosecutions, monitoring and treatment of relevant men could further support the reduction of violence against women and girls.