Police in the UK have arrested a man in his 20s following reports of suspicious behavior at a public swimming facility, involinvg children. The incident happened Sunday at Blackburn Sports and Leisure Centre, where officers were called in just after midday.
“We were called at just after midday on Sunday (March 29) to reports of a man acting suspiciously at Blackburn Leisure Centre on Fielden Street,” a police spokesperson said, according to the Lancashire Telegraph. “Officers attended, and a man in his 20s from Blackburn was arrested on suspicion of taking indecent images of children. He is currently in custody and enquiries are ongoing.”
Footage shared online appears to show a man inside a cubicle before being handcuffed and escorted out of the changing room area by officers. The video hasn’t been independently verified, but it shows police removing a suspect from the facility.
The centre includes a main pool, a children’s pool, and shared changing areas. Staff responded quickly, securing the area and ensuring people were safe, it seems.
Tony Watson, Director of Environment and Resident Services for Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, said: “We are aware of an incident that occurred at Blackburn Leisure Centre on Sunday, March , 29. Our leisure staff responded immediately and took action to secure the area and ensure the safety of all individuals present.”
He added: “Our leisure centres operate under robust safeguarding procedures, including a strict ban on any form of photography or filming within our facilities. We take these matters extremely seriously and will continue to do everything we can to reassure our members and visitors.”
Watson said the council is working with police. “We are working closely with the police to support their enquiries and to ensure they can carry out their investigation as thoroughly as possible.”
The arrest comes amid broader concerns raised by the Women’s Rights Network, which has pointed to multiple incidents in leisure centre changing rooms across the UK in recent months. The group said: “The epidemic of sex crimes in leisure centre changing rooms continues unabated in 2026. In just the first three months of this year leisure centres around the country have been the scene of numerous crimes of voyeurism and sexual assault.”
The organization cited several recent cases, including arrests in Chorley involving a man in his 30s, an incident in Carshalton where a man in his 60s was allegedly caught filming a mother and child, and a case in Dorset where a family reported being filmed while changing. Additional incidents were reported in Perth and Dundee, involving alleged voyeurism offenses in leisure facilities.
“We were called at just after midday on Sunday (March 29) to reports of a man acting suspiciously at Blackburn Leisure Centre on Fielden Street,” a police spokesperson said, according to the Lancashire Telegraph. “Officers attended, and a man in his 20s from Blackburn was arrested on suspicion of taking indecent images of children. He is currently in custody and enquiries are ongoing.”
Footage shared online appears to show a man inside a cubicle before being handcuffed and escorted out of the changing room area by officers. The video hasn’t been independently verified, but it shows police removing a suspect from the facility.
The centre includes a main pool, a children’s pool, and shared changing areas. Staff responded quickly, securing the area and ensuring people were safe, it seems.
Tony Watson, Director of Environment and Resident Services for Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, said: “We are aware of an incident that occurred at Blackburn Leisure Centre on Sunday, March , 29. Our leisure staff responded immediately and took action to secure the area and ensure the safety of all individuals present.”
He added: “Our leisure centres operate under robust safeguarding procedures, including a strict ban on any form of photography or filming within our facilities. We take these matters extremely seriously and will continue to do everything we can to reassure our members and visitors.”
Watson said the council is working with police. “We are working closely with the police to support their enquiries and to ensure they can carry out their investigation as thoroughly as possible.”
The arrest comes amid broader concerns raised by the Women’s Rights Network, which has pointed to multiple incidents in leisure centre changing rooms across the UK in recent months. The group said: “The epidemic of sex crimes in leisure centre changing rooms continues unabated in 2026. In just the first three months of this year leisure centres around the country have been the scene of numerous crimes of voyeurism and sexual assault.”
The organization cited several recent cases, including arrests in Chorley involving a man in his 30s, an incident in Carshalton where a man in his 60s was allegedly caught filming a mother and child, and a case in Dorset where a family reported being filmed while changing. Additional incidents were reported in Perth and Dundee, involving alleged voyeurism offenses in leisure facilities.
