Government urged to criminalise threats to share revenge porn as reports surge by 73%

Sign up for the Independent Women email for the latest news, opinion and features Get the Independent Women email for free Get the Independent Women email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The government has been urged to criminalise threats to share revenge porn by House of Lords peers amid a surge in calls to the UK’s revenge porn helpline. “This small change to the law would enable the criminal justice system to offer the protection that women who are experiencing these threats need.” Revenge porn, defined as revealing private sexual images or videos without the consent of the person with the aim of provoking distress, was made a criminal offence in 2015 and perpetrators face jail sentences of up to two years. They themselves know best what is needed – a law change that will help provide better protection.” Refuge is demanding the government to change Section 33 of the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 to explicitly make threats to share graphic photos or footage a crime. Sophie Mortimer, a manager at the revenge porn helpline, argued the current law is “out of date” and fails to help the mounting numbers of women getting in touch with them about threats to share intimate images.