Revenge porn ‘new normal’ after cases surge in lockdown

There was a surge in reviews of revenge porn this yr, with campaigners saying the issue has been exacerbated by lockdown.

Round 2,050 reviews have been made to a government-funded helpline, a 22% rise from final yr.

As instances have remained excessive regardless of coronavirus restrictions easing, people who run the service worry that is “the brand new regular.”

Revenge porn grew to become unlawful in England and Wales 5 years in the past.

Latest analysis by home violence charity Refuge discovered that one in seven younger girls has acquired threats that intimate images can be shared with out their consent.

There have been extra instances of revenge porn reported to a devoted UK helpline up to now this yr than in all of 2019.

Round two-thirds of instances reported to the helpline contain girls.

Helpline supervisor Sophie Mortimer mentioned the sustained rise is proof of behaviour triggered by the lockdown, and better consciousness of the crime and assist.

The helpline is run by the charity South West Grid for Studying (SWGfL), a part of the UK Safer Web Centre.

The charity has helped take away 22,515 photos this yr – 94% of these reported by victims.

And instances surged in August.

David Wright, director of the UK Safer Web Centre, mentioned: “The lockdown produced an excessive set of circumstances that are bringing a variety of issues.

“What we’re seeing right here, nonetheless, suggests one thing extra long-term has occurred which might imply we can be busier than ever earlier than. It is worrying to suppose this could possibly be the brand new regular.”

Analysis by home violence charity Girls’s Assist discovered that greater than 60% of survivors dwelling with their abuser reported that the abuse they skilled received worse throughout the pandemic.

And revenge porn is a typical type of abuse, based on Lucy Hadley, marketing campaign and coverage supervisor at Girls’s Assist.

“Disclosing personal sexual photos – or threatening to take action – is a typical type of abuse, and is especially harming younger girls.”

“Picture based mostly types of abuse – akin to so-called revenge porn – have to be taken simply as critically as abuse in ‘actual life’,” she added.

Folami Prehaye grew to become a sufferer of revenge porn when her former companion posted express photos of her on-line.

He was given a six-month suspended sentence for harassment and distributing indecent photos.

She mentioned: “There isn’t any marvel that there was a rise of instances throughout lockdown as increasingly more folks have been pressured to construct relationships on-line.

“The issue has all the time been there, its simply that lockdown made it extra obvious, and a better place for predatory sexual exploitation.”