Photographing women breastfeeding without permission to be outlawed

PHOTOGRAPHING a woman who is breastfeeding without her permission will be punishable by up to two years in prison under new measures announced by the government.

The government tabled amendments to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill on Tuesday that creates a new breastfeeding voyeurism offence for taking photos or video footage.

Instances where the photographer is trying to gain sexual gratification, or cause the breastfeeding woman “humiliation, distress or alarm” will be outlawed.

Domestic abuse victims will also be granted extra time to come forward to the police to report incidents of common assault or battery their partners have perpetrated against them.

Present rules mean there is a six-month time limit for domestic abuse victims to report their partner’s physical violence to the police but this will now be extended to two years.