Strangers are arranging to meet for casual sex at top Midland beauty spots. The exhibitionists are taking part in steamy romps known as dogging after swapping details on the internet to arrange the sordid rendezvous - mainly in lay-bys and car parks. According to the website, sex hotspots include Sutton Coldfields scenic Sutton Park, Barr Beacon in Walsall, Goyt Valley Reservoir near Buxton, and Matlock in the heart of the picturesque Peak District. Other popular dogging venues are to be found in Birmingham, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Shropshire, Leicestershire, Gloucestershire and Nottinghamshire. But West Midlands Police have warned that the sex sessions are illegal and could result in prosecutions for breach of the peace or outraging public decency. One web entry on the Barr Beacon site says: The open area tends to be filled with boy-racers, so head for the dark, top area near the bandstand - a good place for couples to watch or be watched! Another entry recommends Sandwell Valley Country Park in West Bromwich for no-strings thrills. It claims: The nature reserve car park is about two miles away from Sandwell Valley Country Park. The area around Sandwell Valley off the M5, junction one, is also well-used. A picnic area in Matlock is mentioned as a popular dogging destination. An internet entry says: Drive up Slack Hill near Matlock and turn left, and then 200 yards on your right there is a signpost for a picnic area. This is well-used after dark by all doggers, being very secluded. But some of the places mentioned are far from isolated. One dogger has suggested Bescot Station car park, in Walsall, which is in the full glare of a set of probing CCTV cameras. The webmaster claims on his site: Dogging is predominantly a British activity that involves outdoor exhibitionism in car parks, wooded areas and the like. The term dogging originated in the early 70s to describe men who spied on couples having sex outdoors. These men would dog the couples every move in an effort to watch them. When the swinging scene discovered that open-air sex had its own special thrill, they began meeting in car parks and the doggers found a new and rich supply of voyeuristic fun. More over, the doggers soon realised that these couples were actively encouraging them to watch, even performing for them, and sometimes allowing them to join in. A West Midlands Police spokesman said: We condemn any website that condones illegal activity. It is illegal to indulge in conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace or outrage public decency. | 
