Gay men arrested for sex in London gym

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Two men were arrested earlier this month for having sex in a London gym, PinkNews.co.uk can reveal.

The pair, who were understood to have been in the sauna at the Virgin Active gym in Barbican, were arrested on suspicion of outraging public decency after staff called police.

They were released from custody on the same day. No further action will be taken over the March 4th incident.

Those convicted of outraging public decency can be fined or jailed in serious cases.

City Police confirmed that the pair had been arrested and said gyms in the area were being encouraged to enforce behaviour rules themselves.

The gym is popular with gay men and PinkNews.co.uk understands that management has been dealing with the issue of men having sex in the saunas for some time.

A spokeswoman for Virgin Active said: “On March 4th, management at Virgin Active Barbican acted according to the law by reporting the discovery of suspected illegal activity among members to City of London Police.

“Virgin Active are all inclusive and do not discriminate against staff, members or non-members according to gender, race or sexuality.

“The clubs have a responsibility to report any suspicion of illegal activity such as serious consensual activity or outraging public decency to the police. Any suspected cases of such activity occurring in clubs would always be dealt with sensitively and seriously.”

A police spokeswoman said: “Responding to concern over public acts of consensual sex is a sensitive area of policing and police LGBT Liaison officers provide advice in this area.

“Officers are working closely with gyms in the City to encourage management to enforce their rules around gym behaviour amongst all members regardless of their sexuality.

“Where staff believe consensual activity is more offensive or serious they should report this and the police will respond in an appropriate and sensitive manner.”

Police have not released the men’s ages in an effort to prevent them from being identified.