Victims of ‘revenge porn’ urged to share stories for campaign
VICTIMS OF so-called ‘revenge porn’ are being asked to share their stories with a police commissioner to bolster her efforts to change the law.
North Yorkshire saw the first prosecution for the crime in 2015 and its police and crime commissioner Julia Mulligan is campaigning for victims to be granted anonymity, saying the situation as it stands is “fundamentally flawed”.
Under the law, the sharing of sexual images of someone without their consent is currently classified as a communications offence rather than a sexual offence, meaning the identity of victims is not protected.
Mrs Mulligan said this caused distress and meant many victims did not come forward to report offences.
She said: “The law on revenge porn is fundamentally flawed.
“It needs to change and this survey will provide me with more evidence in my campaign to ensure the legal loophole is closed once and for all.
“Victims of revenge porn suffer from the moment their most intimate moments are shared online.
“The fact they then have to face being publicly identified if they report the crime is unfair, unjust and unacceptable. It is no surprise that many choose not to report what has happened to them, or that many withdraw from the legal process as time goes on.
“This lack of anonymity lets down victims at a time when the system should be protecting them, not exposing them to further pain and distress.
“I won’t stop fighting on this issue until the law changes.”
The anonymous survey aims to gather the experiences of people who have fallen victim to the crime, whether they reported it to the police or not.
It can be accessed at www. nomorenaming.co.uk and will run until September 10.
The results of the anonymous survey will then be analysed before being presented to the Government, alongside a petition for a change in the law which has so far been signed by more than 15,000 people.