A Devon charity reports a large increase in revenge porn cases, highlighting the issue’s growth and the need for more help.
Sophie Mortimer manages the Revenge Porn Helpline. She says image abuse has changed a lot and is now a major issue worldwide. Initially, the helpline numbers were low, with hundreds of cases being reported yearly. They suspected more people needed help. Now, they are a leading UK helpline, and over 400,000 images have been reported with 60,000 cases handled.
Laws have improved a lot in ten years, and the government now understands the problem better. The UK is finally taking it seriously, yet the problem persists. Intimate image abuse is still increasing fast, and it is crucial to stay focused on this issue.
Alice sought help after her partner died, having been ill for a long time. She received Instagram messages saying her nude photos were online. At first, she thought it was spam, but then she saw a screenshot. It showed her name on a porn site and, scared, she contacted the helpline.
Her late partner likely shared the photos, which he took without her consent. The images were on many sites, and Alice felt betrayed but wanted protection. The helpline removed many images, and they reported over 4,000 photos successfully, achieving a 90% removal rate. Alice said the helpline saved her life.
The charity is calling for key changes during their anniversary. First, they want confirmed images to be made illegal, giving them more power to remove them, and they want image abuse definitions widened to protect more people. They also say to stop delaying law enforcement.
Furthermore, the charity desires mandatory police training. They also ask for long-term funding, which would sustain the Revenge Porn Helpline. Sophie said they have only just begun their work.