On 23rd July, during a live broadcast on Channel 4 News, Sue Turton got her backside pinched by a local. The correspondent was reporting on the floods in Oxford when a man approached her from behind.
Police are pressing to punish the culprit but Turton has no desire to punish him.
Here is the video of the incident:
Regarding the issue, Turton is quoted as saying:
“Many people found the incident in Oxford last week when a man pinched my bum live on Channel 4 News humorous. Thames Valley Police, however, saw it and asked for a taped copy in order to identify the culprit, suggesting that a charge of sexual assault could be considered.
“I’ve no desire to punish this man through the courts. But I did wonder if I accepted such behaviour without complaint what hope do women who are groped in public in this way have of any recourse?
“I personally found the matter quite humiliating and somewhat disrespectful to the plight of those I was reporting about.
“Some may say I’m being prudish. It’s true I’ve been in much more threatening situations throughout my reporting career, but they were in far flung places where personal space isn’t a priority.
“Male reporters would never be treated to a public goosing. Should the women of my profession not expect the same respect?”
A Thames Valley Police spokesman said that although Turton did not want to press charges, the police thought the incident was serious enough to warrant a penalty. “We are taking this seriously,” a spokesman said. “We just think it was particularly stupid and obnoxious behaviour and the individual concerned needs some kind of sanction. “The victim of the offence does not wish to press charges, however Thames Valley police believe we have identified the offender and we will be seeking to issue him with a fixed-penalty notice for a public order offence.”
Thames Valley Police have asked Channel 4 News for a video of the incident and they intend to issue the culprit with an £80 fixed-penalty notice for a public order offence. (source)
