Key Points
- Kevin William Scarnell, featured in Camden Council‘s anti-sexual harassment campaign, jailed for two years and eight months.
- Scarnell admitted to attempting to meet and sexually assault a boy in Maidstone.
- Previously appeared in a council video condemning upskirting.
- The video was removed after authorities became aware of his conviction.
- Camden Council expressed regret and support for victims.
- Tory and Lib Dem politicians criticised Camden Council’s vetting and response.
- Scarnell repeatedly sent obscene messages and images to a teenage boy via a dating app.
- He travelled from Camden to Maidstone intending to meet the boy.
- Arrested after police observed suspicious behaviour.
What Did Kevin Scarnell Do to Warrant Imprisonment?
As reported by The Telegraph, Kevin William Scarnell, a 59-year-old who starred in Camden Council’s “Call It Out” campaign against sexual harassment, was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison. He pleaded guilty to arranging sexual activity with a child, engaging in sexual communication with a child, and causing a child to watch sexual activity.
Scarnell, who lived on the Chalcots estate in Swiss Cottage and served as a community representative on climate “citizens’ panels” and tenant committees, was found to have sent a young teenage boy a barrage of sexually explicit messages, images, and videos. These messages detailed his sexual preferences and were sent daily between March 28 and April 24.
The court heard that Scarnell repeatedly sought to meet the boy in a car park on the outskirts of Maidstone. Described as “excited,” he even got a haircut before travelling from Camden to Maidstone to carry out his plans. Police arrested him after surveillance detected his suspicious presence in a blue Ford Fiesta circling the agreed meeting spot.
How Did Camden Council Respond to Scarnell’s Conviction?
Following the discovery of Scarnell’s crimes, Camden Council promptly removed the recruitment video in which he had appeared. A council spokesperson stated:
“As soon as we became aware of this man’s crimes, we removed this clip, which was made last year as part of an important campaign. Our thoughts remain with his victim and all victims of sex crimes.”
The campaign video focused on anti-upskirting, a crime involving covert filming or photographing of a person’s genitals or underwear without consent. In the video, Scarnell had condemned such behaviour, saying it was “increasingly common” and emphasised the importance of victims coming forward.
What Political Reactions Have Followed This Case?
Susan Hall, Conservative leader in City Hall, criticised Camden Council for not acting sooner to remove the video after Scarnell’s conviction was known. She labelled it a “disgrace” that the video remained available online for some time after the sentencing and declared herself “beyond appalled.”
Matthew Kirk, a Liberal Democrat councillor in Camden, condemned both the offence and Scarnell’s role in undermining the council’s public safety campaign. Kirk urged Camden to review its vetting procedures carefully in light of the incident, highlighting the damage caused not only by Scarnell’s actions but also by his continued public presence in the campaign.
What Was the Purpose of Camden Council’s “Call It Out” Campaign?
When launching the campaign last year, Cllr Pat Callaghan, Camden’s cabinet member for safer communities, called for male allies to join efforts in tackling violence against women and girls. The campaign sought to encourage people to safely challenge and intervene in instances of sexual harassment and report inappropriate behaviour.
Callaghan said:
“We hope through this new campaign we can encourage everyone to safely challenge and intervene when they witness sexual harassment and any type of inappropriate behaviour and report it. We are also calling for male allies to join our fight in tackling violence against women and girls to ensure we can protect women now and in the future”..
What Does This Case Reveal About Safeguards in Public Campaigns?
The case of Kevin Scarnell raises serious questions about the vetting and ongoing monitoring of individuals featured in public safety campaigns. Despite Scarnell’s prior positive community involvement, the revelations of his criminal conduct have severely undermined the campaign’s credibility.
Camden Council’s quick removal of the video shows responsiveness, but political criticism underscores the importance of thorough background checks and vigilance to prevent similar incidents.
