‘Revenge porn’
Rhys Griffiths investigates this growing phenomenon.
Hidden cameras were once the preserve of spy movies - inserted into Bond’s watch by Q Branch - or used by television prank shows to catch unsuspecting victims.
But the march of technology means such kit is now available at bargain prices, putting covert surveillance within reach of the masses.
While this means many homeowners can now protect their property with remotely-accessible CCTV systems, it also allows those with more unscrupulous motives to record unwitting victims with ease.
Pervert Floyd Winch,from Maidstone, was sentenced to a year in prison after he perched his covert camera on the side of a bath, primed to film his victim six times.
He subsequently uploaded the footage to a porn site, and his victim only became aware it had been viewed thousands of times when a man in the United States contacted her.
Kent Police investigating officer PC Raechel King said the force would work with anyone who had been a victim of this disturbing crime and perpetrators would be brought before the courts.
Although examples of people being filmed secretly still remains relatively rare, every year thousands of people become victims of intimate image abuse - sometimes commonly known as ‘revenge porn’ where pictures or video of them in compromising situations are shared without consent.
Revenge Porn Helpline, which supports victims, dealt with 3,150 cases last year. This is up from 520 in
2015 - the year it became a specific criminal offence to disclose an intimate picture without the person in it consenting.
Jo Lemaux, from Kent, is a survivor of domestic abuse, whose former partner shared intimate images of her with friends online without her permission. She believes this kind of abuse can be a sign of worse to come.
“Initially I felt upset and angry but by the end of the conversation he had convinced me that he had done it out of love,” she said. She spoke of how her partner began to use it as a tool to control her, threatening to post images online if she didn’t do what he wanted.
To wrestle back control of her life she moved away from her home.
She said: “I know how com
Last week a voyeur was jailed after secretly filming a woman in the shower using a ‘spy watch’ before uploading the videos to an international pornography site. With intimate image abuse - the act of sharing intimate images or videos of someone without their consent - affecting thousands every year, reporter
mon it is for people to find excitement taking pictures like this but it is paramount they stay consensual.
“I have begun rebuilding my life and self worth. From
one picture I lost
everything and it is going to take me years to get back the person I used to be.”
In 2017 the issue hit the headlines when spy cameras were found in the toilets of a string of Maidstone town centre stores. Police said the culprit was never caught.
A security guard uncovered the first secret camera found in a public convenience at Broadway Shopping Centre, and later two more devices were found in the unisex toilet at Waterstone’s in Fremlin Walk and Costa in King Street.
A police spokesman said: “Nobody was arrested and the investigation has been filed pending any further informa
tion coming to light.” will make of it.
Basic research shows how In 2019 campaigners easy it is to buy this type of succeeded in making equipment. Amazon offers ‘spy ‘upskirting’ - the practice cameras’ with prices from as little of taking a picture under as £10. a person’s clothing without
And the marketing material them knowing - a specific seems to leave little doubt of offence. the potential for misuse. “No That same year the one will ever suspect that this government launched clock has a recording camera” a review to examine if and “for capturing images and victims of revenge porn videos without anybody knowing”amongthepromisesmade should be granted autoas matic anonymity, by the sellers of the cameras. victims of other sexual
The law, however, can offences are. feel a little less clear Tabitha Morton, cut. Voyeurism defined deputy leader of the by the Sexual Women’s Equalsaid: Offences Act 2003 as ity Party, observing another “Despite existing person doing a private laws, this problem act, without is clearly getting their consent to worse for women being observed, and girls. for sexual gratification “Technology is - is a moving much well-established faster than offence. current laws, Yet in the context which is why of other we are callthe forms of abuse ing for UK the law is government to still seen to expand laws be playing on threats catch-up to share with both intimate technology images, and and to the uses remove offenders caveats
around the motivations of the distributor.
“Non-consensual sharing of any sexual image needs to be criminalised, full stop.”
But what about the boom in other technology - home doorbell systems which record, for instance?
Guidance here suggests those looking to set up CCTV systems and other cameras at home says filming is permitted as long as it only captures images within your home and is not set up where people should expect they are in a private setting.
The Information Commissioner’s Office reminds of the need to respect the privacy of others, saying as long as cameras - such as CCTV, doorbell cameras, or even hidden inside everyday items like alarm clocks, watches
and picture frames - only capture images within the boundary of your private domestic property, then data protection laws do not apply. However, if your system records people outside the boundary of your home, then the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018 apply and you must ensure your CCTV set-up complies with these rules. You are also not entitled to film people in settings where they have a reasonable expectation of privacy.
The government recommends people are transparent
to those around them when using a private filming system, such as informing neighbours and putting up a notice to state recording is happening. Despite the rules, there will always be those who wish to record others and use the images without consent. A Revenge Porn Helpline spokesman said: “Intimate image abuse is a cruel and invasive crime. It’s important
victims are aware that they are not to be blamed, support is out there, and that they deserve access to it.”
Advice for anyone affected is not to panic, screenshot all evidence, such as pictures or messages from the perpetrator. “Report the crime to the police using 101. Afterwards call us.” Around 90% of content reported to the helpline is removed. n The Revenge Porn Helpline offers free, confidential, advice and is reached on 0345 6000 459.