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Threats to post revenge porn should be a crime, a charity said as it revealed one in seven young women have been threatened that their intimate photos will be shared without their consent.
Women aged 18-34 are twice as likely than the general population to have intimate or sexual photos of themselves used against them in this way, Refuge said.
The charity’s technology abuse team said threats to share intimate images are rising, have become a common form of abuse, and should be made a crime.
One in seven young women and one in nine young men in England and Wales had experienced threats, its survey of 2,060 people – including 282 women aged 18-34 – found.
Of the one in 14 women overall who received threats, 72% were threatened by a current or former partner and of these, 83% experienced other forms of abuse.
While 60% of those who experienced threats were under 40, around one in eight were in their 60s, suggesting this takes place across age groups.
Refuge’s “The Naked Threat” campaign is calling for the government to make threats to share intimate images or videos a crime and consider revenge porn as a type of domestic abuse.
It says this is vital given that sharing such images is an increasingly common part of romantic relationships, adding that 27% of young men and 43% of young women have done so.
Head of policy and public affairs, Ellie Butt, said: “Refuge is launching this campaign as the government heads into the report stage of the Domestic Abuse Bill with a clear ask: the law urgently needs to change and the Bill provides the Government with the perfect opportunity to act quickly and decisively.
“Sharing an intimate image is already a crime – rightly so – but now the law needs to move with the times and recognise that threats to share these images causes serious harm regardless of whether the threat is then carried out.”
“Sharing an intimate image is already a crime – rightly so – but now the law needs to move with the times.”
- Head of policy and public affairs, Ellie Butt
Eight in 10 (83%) of the women who received threats said their mental health and wellbeing suffered, while more than one in 10 said they felt suicidal.
More than three quarters (78%) changed the way they acted, with one in 10 allowing the perpetrator contact with their children, and a slightly lower proportion saying they felt forced to continue or resume the relationship.
Around four in 10 of the women had also experienced coercive and controlling behaviour or emotional abuse; a fifth experienced other forms of technology abuse such as phone monitoring, while more than one in four women were sexually abused.
Of those who received threats, almost a quarter (23%) of women and 40% of men said the image was then shared on social media platforms, which Refuge said could have been prevented if threats were made a crime. But around 5% were not sure whether the material in question even existed. Just under two thirds of the women did not report the threats to the police.
Refuge said those who do are commonly told nothing can be done unless the image is shared because a threat is not illegal.
Natasha, 31, was six months into a relationship with her now ex-husband when he persuaded her to pose for photos. She said: “He would berate me and mock my appearance until I gave in. Posing for these photos made me feel so dirty and worthless, but I was just a teenager and I wanted to make him happy.”
She added: “The threat of those intimate photos being shared was my worst nightmare – I had no choice but to comply with his continued abuse or face potential shame and humiliation.”
A government spokesman said: “Revenge porn is a terrible abuse of trust and since changing the law, more than 700 people have been convicted with over 150 going straight to prison.
“Those who threaten to share such images can already be prosecuted under existing offences, but we have asked the Law Commission to make sure our laws are keeping pace with these evolving crimes.”
Domestic Abuse Commissioner Nicole Jacobs, who supports the campaign, said: “Threats to share these images play on fear and shame, and can be particularly dangerous where there might be multiple perpetrators or so-called ‘honour-based’ abuse is a factor. What’s more, the advent of new technologies enable perpetrators to make these threats even where such images do not exist, but there is no clear criminal sanction for this behaviour.”
Chief Constable Simon Bailey, the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for public protection, said police take revenge pornography very seriously, adding: “If prosecution is not possible officers will signpost victims to groups like the National Stalking Helpline who can offer support and advice.”
He added: “The College of Policing has produced a briefing and training note which all officers involved in these types of investigations can access.”