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uk Sexual violence & highly sensitive situations hidden camera in hotel room • hidden camera in shower • suspicious device aimed at bed • spy camera in rental • covert recording device • bathroom privacy breach • bedroom privacy breach • hotel room surveillance • holiday rental hidden camera • undisclosed indoor camera • found camera in accommodation • filmed without consent • privacy violation while travelling • suspicious charger with lens • suspicious smoke detector camera • small device pointed at me • accommodation safety concern • voyeurism concern • sexual privacy violation • hotel incident report • rental platform safety case

What to do if…
you find a small device aimed at your bed or shower in a hotel or rental

Short answer

Get to a safer, public place first (hallway/lobby/outside), then contact the police and the accommodation/platform to move you immediately and preserve your options.

Do not do these things

  • Don’t stay in the room “to see what happens” or keep using the shower/bed.
  • Don’t confront the host, cleaner, or hotel staff alone or in the room.
  • Don’t dismantle the device, remove the memory card, or plug it into anything.
  • Don’t start searching for more devices while you’re alone.
  • Don’t post about it publicly (including social media) while you’re still there.

What to do now

  1. Create distance first. Put on clothes, grab essentials (phone, keys, wallet, passport/ID, meds), and go to a public place (corridor, lobby, reception, outside).
  2. Call the police based on urgency.
    • If you feel unsafe now or the crime may be in progress: call 999.
    • If you’re safe but want to report: call 101 or use your local force’s online contact/reporting route (this differs across the UK).
  3. Ask to be moved immediately—without going back alone.
    • Hotel: ask reception/manager to move you now and to create a formal incident record (ask for the reference/incident number).
    • Rental/platform stay: contact the platform’s support from a safe place and ask for urgent relocation and a safety case to be opened.
  4. Preserve the situation with minimal handling (only if it feels safe). If you can do this without increasing risk, take 1–2 quick photos showing the device in place and the wider location, and note the time/date and room/listing details. If it doesn’t feel safe, skip this and prioritise leaving and calling police/support.
  5. Ask for records to be kept. Ask the manager/platform to retain/preserve anything that may help later (for example: key-card/access logs, staff entry records, and any relevant corridor CCTV). They may have retention limits, so asking early can matter.
  6. Get confidential support (optional, but can help right now). If you want specialist support without pressure, you can contact the 24/7 Rape & Sexual Abuse Support Line (Rape Crisis England & Wales) on 0808 500 2222 (England & Wales, age 16+). You can also contact a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) for medical, practical and emotional support—reporting to police is not required to seek help.

What can wait

  • You do not have to decide right now whether you’ll make a formal statement, pursue charges, or seek compensation.
  • You do not need to prove what the device is, find more devices, or work out who placed it.
  • You can delay any reviews, public posts, or complaints until you’re safe and supported.

Important reassurance

Finding something like this can feel shocking, violating, or unreal—even if you don’t know whether anything was recorded. Wanting to leave immediately and involve support is a reasonable response.

Scope note

These are first steps to stabilise, reduce risk, and preserve options. Later steps (formal reporting, complaints, legal advice) can be taken once you’re safe and supported.

Important note

This guide is general information for immediate safety and next actions, not legal advice or a guarantee of outcomes. If you’re in immediate danger, call 999.

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