QPR release statement with two players arrested at training ground after nightclub incident

QPR release a statement with two academy players arrested by police at the training ground after a nightclub incident.

Both of the late teens were detained at the club’s  SG Elite Training Centre in Hounslow, West London, on suspicion of voyeurism.

The arrests are connected to an incident that reportedly occurred at a nightclub in Kingston, South London, on Wednesday, February 5th, 2025.

Exc: Police arrest two QPR academy players at club’s training HQ on suspicion of voyeurism. Allegations linked to an incident at a nightclub in south London. Both footballers in custody. https://t.co/cCialTQNlH

— Sami Mokbel (@SamiMokbel81_DM) February 27, 2025

The Metropolitan Police have confirmed this week that the two suspects were initially taken into custody following the arrests.

As of Friday, February 28, 2025, they have been released on bail pending further inquiries, with a scheduled return date in early April.

The victim is being supported by specialist officers, and the police investigation remains ongoing.

QPR issued a statement acknowledging the alleged incident involving the two academy players, noting that the individuals are cooperating with the police.

The club emphasised that, due to the ongoing investigation, no further comments would be made at this time.

In response to a request from Mail Sport, a Metropolitan Police spokesperson confirmed: ‘On Thursday, 27 February, police arrested two men in their late teens on suspicion of voyeurism.

‘This follows a report of an incident which took place at a nightclub in Kingston on Wednesday, the 5th of February.

‘Both suspects remain in custody and enquiries are ongoing. The victim continues to be supported by specialist officers.’

QPR issued a statement to Mail Sport: ‘Queens Park Rangers Football Cub are aware of an alleged incident involving two academy players.

‘The individuals are helping police with their enquiries.

‘As this is an ongoing investigation, the club will not be making any further comment at this time.’

WHAT IS VOYEURISM?

Police state that ‘Voyeurism’ is when someone gets sexual pleasure from watching, photographing or recording others doing something that’s usually private, for example when they’re naked or having sex.

Voyeurism is an offence if it is done without the person’s permission. The offence includes photographing or filming others for someone else’s sexual pleasure.

’Upskirting’ is an informal term for a type of voyeurism when someone uses equipment like a camera or mobile phone to take photos or videos underneath a person’s clothes, without their permission.

It’s not limited to women wearing skirts or dresses and applies to anyone wearing kilts, shorts, trousers or any other clothes.

Upskirting often happens in crowded places like public transport or music festivals, which can make it difficult to notice.

Upskirting is an offence whether it’s done for sexual pleasure or to humiliate or upset someone.

OFFENCES (per the CPS website)

Section 67A (1) Voyeurism

This section criminalises offenders who operate equipment  (irrespective as to whether an image is recorded) under another person’s clothing (without that person’s consent or a reasonable belief in their consent) with the intention of viewing, or enabling another person to view, their genitals or buttocks (with or without underwear), in circumstances where the genitals, buttocks or underwear would not otherwise be visible, where the purpose is to obtain sexual gratification or to cause humiliation, distress or alarm.

The legislation confirms that:

(1) A person (A) commits an offence if –

(a) A operates equipment beneath the clothing of another person (B),

(b) A does so with the intention of enabling A or another person (C), for a purpose mentioned in subsection (3), to observe –

(i) B’s genitals or buttocks (whether exposed or covered with underwear), or

(ii) the underwear covering B’s genitals or buttocks, in circumstances where the genitals, buttocks or underwear would not otherwise be visible, and

(c) A does so –

(i) without B’s consent, and (ii) without reasonably believing that B consents.

This section is particularly useful where the behaviour has been witnessed but where it has not been possible to recover the device used or the actual images.

Section 67A (2) Voyeurism

This section criminalises offenders who record an image beneath the clothing of another person’s clothing (without that person’s consent or a reasonable belief in their consent) with the intention of viewing, or enabling another person to view, their genitals or buttocks (with or without underwear), in circumstances where the genitals, buttocks or underwear would not otherwise be visible.

Where images have been recovered it is preferable to use this offence as it avoids any dispute about what offenders may have been intending to observe when they carried out this behaviour.

The legislation confirms that:

(2) A person (A) commits an offence if –

(a) A records an image beneath the clothing of another person (B),

(b) the image is of –

(i) B’s genitals or buttocks (whether exposed or covered with underwear), or

(ii) the underwear covering B’s genitals or buttocks, in circumstances where the genitals, buttocks or underwear would not otherwise be visible,

(c) A does so with the intention that A or another person (C) will look at the image for a purpose mentioned in subsection (3), and

(d) A does so –

(i) without B’s consent, and

(ii) without reasonably believing that B consents.

For both offences it is necessary to prove offenders have the intention (either for themselves or others) to view the image for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification (either for themselves or another person) or for the purpose of humiliating, alarming or distressing the victim. The legislation confirms that:

(3) The purposes referred to in subsections (1) and (2) are –

(a) obtaining sexual gratification (whether for A or C);

(b) humiliating, alarming or distressing B.

Victims of the new offences will be entitled to automatic reporting restrictions, often referred to as “automatic anonymity”. Automatic reporting restrictions provide complainants in cases involving sexual offences with lifetime protection from being identified in the media, prohibiting publication of identifying details such as names, addresses, or photos.

What to do if it happens to you

You might feel anxiety, fear and feelings of distrust and violation. Or you might not feel alarmed or distressed at all. There’s no right or wrong way to feel.

Get out of the situation quickly if you can.

If you’re in public, move away.

Don’t engage directly with the offender.

If it’s definitely safe to, consider taking a photo of them from a safe distance.

Report it to us, if you feel you can.

Report it

It takes courage to report something uncomfortable, but if you feel you can talk to us, we’ll always take you seriously.

Your report can help us stop it happening to someone else. Sometimes people who commit this type of offence go on to commit more serious offences.