Threatening to share revenge porn is now officially a crime

Threatening to share intimate images is a crime from today in the United Kingdom.

The ban is part of a set of measures passed into law after the “landmark” Domestic Abuse Bill received royal assent.

Sharing revenge porn was already illegal – with over 900 abusers convicted since 2015 – but the new legislation now makes threatening to share those images a crime.

The charity Refuge found one in seven young women have faced threats to share images without their consent. Statistics from Revenge Porn Helpline show that 75 per cent of victims of these threats are female.

The bill also introduces a wide-ranging legal definition of domestic abuse.

Non-fatal strangulation is now illegal, carrying a maximum prison sentence of five years. Campaigners say its introduction will make it easier to prosecute cases that would previously only be treated as assault.

Perpetrators of sexual assault will also no longer be able to directly cross-examine their victims in civil and family courts.

Lord Chancellor Robert Buckland said: “This landmark piece of legislation steps up the response to domestic abuse at every level – giving victims more support than ever before while ensuring perpetrators feel the full force of the law.”

If you or someone you know has been affected by this story contact Refuge on their free 24/7 helpline 0808 2000 247 or contact Rape Crisis online for a free confidential chat helpline.

The Tab’s Do Better campaign is putting a focus on the rising student sexual assault problem. Universities need to do more to support students and the culture around sexual assault needs to change.

Related stories recommended:

• I was blackmailed for nudes and it nearly cost me my future

• Threatening to share revenge porn is set to become illegal

• All universities have been told to urgently review their sexual assault policies