The Department of Justice launched the “Don’t do it. Don’t tolerate it” campaign to raise awareness of the new offences in the Justice (Sexual Offences and Trafficking Victims) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 which it recently brought into operation.

The 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 of the Department of Justice, said: “Up-skirting, down-blousing and cyber-flashing 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.”