Man arrested for stalking after filming women in viral ‘Manchester Nightlife’ videos

A man has been arrested on suspicion of harassment and voyeurism after creating a series of viral “Manchester Nightlife” videos.

Often captured in the Deansgate area, the videos often focussed on intoxicated women, filming them without their knowledge or consent.

Greater Manchester Police confirmed that a 27-year-old from Bradford was arrested this morning in what is thought to be “the first in the country” linked with several viral videos on social media, Manchester Evening News reports. 

Officers conducted a warrant in Bradford today (Wednesday 27th November) after M.E.N conducted an investigation into the videos, which are often filmed on on Peter Street and Deansgate.

This is the first arrest over videos like this made in the UK.

This type of video, focussed on women at night as they walk around the city, attracts millions of views, and similar videos have also been taken in Liverpool, London and Leeds.

Last year, a number of accounts filming women in Manchester were called out for this “creepy” behaviour, with TikTokker Amy Adams previously saying: “I think the whole premise is disgusting.

“In reality it’s just some guy recording young girls on a night out.”

However, the investigation by M.E.N showed how creators of the videos posted more explicit content on a Patreon account behind a paywall.

Videos posted for a subscription of £13 a month zoomed in on the chests and bottoms of women as they walk, unaware that they are being filmed. In one clip, a woman’s full breast is exposed and filmed as it slips out of her top.

Information from the investigation was passed on to GMP, who used the information to trace and arrest the suspect this morning. This is the first arrest over videos like this made in the UK.

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The suspect currently remains in custody for questioning.

In a statement, Greater Manchester Police said: “This morning (Wednesday 27 November 2024), 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.”

Explaining the legalities of filming in public, Chief Inspector Stephen Wiggins said: “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.”

He added: “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.”

Featured image via Greater Manchester Police and TikTok