A recent news report on the conviction of Jean-Pierre Francis for a series of voyeurism offences in Northampton highlights a growing and often overlooked risk: the rise of covert voyeurism.
The BBC reports that Jean-Pierre Francis came to police attention in May 2024 when a woman found a hidden camera in her bedroom in Northampton. His devices were seized and officers found hundreds of videos and images dating from 2015 to 2025. Cameras were discovered to have been placed in plugs, USB sticks, a pen and in a shower gel bottle.
Francis, 33, from Northampton, pleaded guilty to six counts of voyeurism, with women aged from their 20s to their 60s found to be victims. He has been jailed for three years and six months at Northampton Crown Court.
Covert Voyeurism
The National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) has long identified insider risk as an increasingly significant threat. While many organisations continue to invest heavily in cyber security, the risks posed by individuals with legitimate access are frequently underestimated.
In this case, Francis was identified after a victim discovered a hidden camera in her bedroom, leading to a wider investigation that uncovered a pattern of offences spanning more than a decade, across both domestic and workplace environments. Over one hundred recordings were recovered.
The increasing availability of low-cost, highly effective surveillance devices online is contributing to a rise in such crimes, with voyeurism cases increasing by 30% in the year to March 2025* – a trend that shows no signs of slowing.
For organisations, the implications are clear: protecting the privacy and dignity of employees AND individuals is not only a moral obligation but a legal requirement. Employers must ensure workplaces are safe, secure, and free from harassment—including risks posed by covert surveillance. This is reinforced by the Workplace Protection Act which was introduced in 2023 without a grace period.
When teams are deployed on a job, can you be confident of theirs – and others – safety? Failure to protect individuals can result in reputational damage and potential legal action.
How we can help
At Esoteric, we work with clients to address these threats through comprehensive Technical Surveillance Counter Measures (TSCM) surveys. This includes ensuring that all areas where individuals can reasonably expect privacy are appropriately protected.
If you would like to better safeguard your staff, customers, and organisation from the risks of covert surveillance, contact Esoteric to discuss how we can support you.
