20th May 12 
Leisure centre 'peeping tom' investigation
A STARTLED woman has raised the alarm over a 'peeping tom' in the changing facilities at DG One.
The 31-year-old was getting changed in the flagship Dumfries leisure centre when she noticed a hand holding a mobile camera phone over the top of her cubicle -- quickly withdrawn when she shouted out in shock.
A police spokesman said: “We know it’s a very rare incident, but we want witnesses to come forward and for anybody who is doing this kind of thing to understand that, whilst there are no CCTV cameras in and around the changing area, you are monitored in and around the whole building and we will hopefully be able to track down who this was.”
The incident happened at about 11.30 am last Saturday in a shared men and women’s changing area where individual cubicles are not enclosed to floor or ceiling.
Police say they are aware of only one previous report of this sort from DG One, but are encouraging anyone who has experienced a similar situation to come forward.
Voicing concern, one female DG One user who wished to remain anonymous, said: “I’ve only been swimming at DG One once, and the communal changing put me off so much that I’ve not been back.
“The cubicles are quite open at the top and bottom and I feel they don’t offer enough privacy.”
Explaining that she constantly checked to make sure no one was looking as she changed, she added: “Why did they make it communal? I don’t know anybody who feels happy getting changed with strangers of the opposite sex lurking.”
A spokesman for the council-run facility has assured efforts are being made to catch the culprit.
She said: “Council staff at DG One are co-operating with the police over an alleged incident at the weekend. We take such allegations very seriously.”
With surrounding CCTV footage being studied, the spokeswoman added: “It is important to stress that this is a very rare incident and systems in place such as staff patrols ensure the safety and well-being of our customers.
“Operational arrangements are being reviewed and, where appropriate, action will be taken.”
NEWSDESK: 01461-202417
Print this article
Email this article Have your say
If you would like to send your comments to the editor, complete the form below and submit.
News Archive