Ten ‘revenge porn’ complaints to Scots police every week
TEN people a week are claiming to be the victims of revenge porn in Scotland, police figures reveal.
But less than half of the complaints filed in the past year have resulted in a caution, charge or court appearance.
Campaigners say such cases are ‘every bit as devastating as other forms of sexual violence’ – and called for offenders to be ‘punished strongly’.
A new law was brought on July 3 last year making it easier to prosecute those sharing intimate images online without consent – with offenders facing up to five years in prison.
In the year since then, Police Scotland received 551 complaints across the country of so-called ‘revenge porn’ – threats to make public photos or film of the victim engaged in sexual activity. But only 240 of them have been what police deem ‘detected’, meaning the report resulted in a caution, charge or court appearance.
Police in Glasgow received the most complaints, 110, with 43 of these ‘detected’ – 39 per cent.
This was one of the lowest detection rates in Scotland, along with the Forth Valley and North-East.
The fewest complaints were in Argyll and West Dunbartonshire, with seven reports and three cases detected.
Campaigners say that possible reasons for the low detection rates include complaints being withdrawn amid embarrassment, fears of recrimination, or the lack of concrete evidence.
Rape Crisis Scotland chief executive Sandy Brindley said revenge porn is ‘every bit as devastating as other forms of sexual violence’.
She added: ‘It is important that perpetrators, and potential perpetrators, of this unique form of violation and abuse are made aware that sharing, or threatening to share, images of someone without their permission is a criminal offence which can attract a significant jail sentence.’
Marsha Scott from Scottish Women’s Aid said: ‘So-called “revenge porn” isn’t about revenge or porn, it’s about power, control and humiliation. It’s used to bully and force a victim to obey and to make them feel scared.
‘This is still a new law so it’s too early to say for certain what these detection rates mean. Much like other forms of sexual violence within an abusive relationship, it is difficult for women to come forward because of pressure from their abusive partner but also because they fear they will not be believed and/or will be blamed.’
The Abusive Behaviour and Sexual Harm (Scotland) Act made it an offence to disclose, or threaten to disclose, intimate images or video without consent. Conviction can mean up to five years in jail.
Facebook, WhatsApp, Snapchat and Instagram were among the most common platforms used to share intimate images.
Crown Office figures show that in the five months after the legislation was brought in, only eight cases out of 40 being prosecuted led to conviction, although some cases were ongoing at the time.
Scottish Tory equalities spokesman Annie Wells said: ‘Police have rightly made it a priority to clamp down on this vile practice.
‘But if only half of these crimes are being detected, those efforts are being undermined. The only way to stop this is to ensure those who are caught are punished strongly, so anyone considering this sort of behaviour can be left in no doubt it won’t be worth it.’
Detective Chief Inspector Vince Mclaughlin, of the Highlands and Islands’ Public Protection Unit, said: ‘We are committed to carrying out thorough and robust investigations in order to bring perpetrators to justice.’
Detective Chief Inspector Kevin Walker, of the North-East’s unit, said the force is ‘committed to bringing those who behave in such a menacing and controlling manner to justice’.
Last November, Kieran Coyle, 30, of Dundee, became one of the first men convicted under the revenge porn legislation.
He pleaded guilty to threatening on July 7 to make public explicit pictures of a woman who owed him money, and was told to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work.
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