Car parks advertised on the net as sites for open-air sex
THREE car parks in Elmbridge are being advertised on the internet as locations where sexual exhibitionism takes place.
A car park near the American Community School in Cobham is named as one used for the sexual activity known as dogging.
The two other Elmbridge dogging areas listed are car parks in Esher just off the A3 and another on the Long Ditton-Surbiton borders.
One of several websites dedicated to the act gives an explanation of what it involves.
"Dogging is a predominantly British activity that involves outdoor exhibitionism in car parks, wooded areas and the like," the site states.
"The term dogging originated in the early 70s to describe men who spied on couples having sex outdoors.
"The men would 'dog' the couples' every move in an effort to watch them."
Information on the net, which also gives a directory of locations across the country where dogging takes place as well as directions on how to get there, explains how the sex scene has developed.
"When the swinging scene discovered that open-air sex has its own special thrill they began meeting in car parks and the doggers found a new and rich supply of voyeuristic fun.
"Moreover, the doggers soon realised that these couples were actively encouraging them to watch, even performing for them and sometimes allowing them to join in."
The liberal sexual attitude put forward on the websites to those people interested in dogging in Elmbridge stems from the lack of laws to stop the activity.
A spokesperson for Surrey Police said that dogging as a consensual sexual activity does not break any laws.
"If anyone involved in these sorts of activities comes to the police and reports that a crime has been committed then there would be an investigation," she added.
"At present, there are no laws which prevent an activity like dogging taking place in secluded public places."
However, the spokesperson said that patrols have been tasked with paying particular attention to beauty spots and car parks in the borough.
Elmbridge Council's leisure services department is responsible for the Cobham and Esher car parks where dogging takes place.
"We have been in touch with the police and investigated things like bylaws but there seems to be nothing that we can do about it," a spokesman for the council said.
One of the dogging websites gives the car park by the entrance to Surbiton Golf Club in Woodstock Lane South as a location where couples and voyeurs gather.
As well as giving directions the website says: "A huge amount of dogging action is going on, mainly on Saturdays and Wednesdays."
According to one of the sites, many doggers use a car park or wooded area which is local to them.