Domestic abusers who threaten to share explicit images of their partners ‘will become criminals’

Domestic abusers who threaten to share naked pictures or sex tapes of their partners will be made criminals after a campaign to change the law headed by British actor Olivia Colman.

The campaign, launched by abuse charity Refuge, was directed at Home Secretary Priti Patel and Justice Secretary Robert Buckland, urging them to make the act of threatening to share explicit images a crime.

According to the Sun, Government ministers are expected to back the change and make ‘an intent to share intimate images’ an offence under new abuse legislation.

Domestic abusers who threaten to share naked pictures or sex tapes of their partners will be made criminals after a campaign to change the law headed by British actor Olivia Colman

Refuge last week won the backing of Oscar-winning actor Olivia Colman who recorded a personal message to Priti Patel asking her to support the campaign.

In the video, Olivia, a Refuge ambassador, says: ‘Dear Priti, I need your help.

‘Unless you act now, millions of women across the UK will be threatened.

Right now, women in this country are being abused by partners threatening to share explicit images of them.

‘Please change the law. Make threatening to share explicit imagery illegal, now. And protect women from the naked threat.’

Government minister Nicky Morgan has also backed the campaign and put forward an amendment to the Domestic Abuse bill which is currently at the House of Lords but due back before MPs in a matter of weeks.

During the same video, Baroness Morgan called the bill ‘a landmark opportunity’ for change that could protect millions of women.  

Lisa King, Director of communications and external relations at Refuge, said: ‘Refuge is beyond delighted to hear that the Government has committed, as part of the Domestic Abuse Bill, we hope, to make threats to share intimate images illegal. 

‘We have been working around the clock, over many months to bring this to the Government’s attention. For the one in seven young women in this country experiencing threats to share intimate images, this commitment shows that the Government is willing to listen to their needs and experiences and put them front and centre of their efforts to tackle domestic abuse.’

A recent study by Refuge showed that 1 in 14 adults in England and Wales – 4.4 million people – have received these threats to share.

The data showed young women are disproportionately impacted, with 1 in 7 experiencing these threats.

The campaign was also backed by Love Island star Zara McDermott who said: ‘I’ve been on the receiving end of “revenge porn” threats and know exactly how damaging it can be.

‘I’ve heard from countless other women that they too have had similar experiences.

‘This change in the law really could make a difference to the lives of so many women.’

According to the Sun, the Home Office and Ministry of Justice ‘do not disagree with the objectives of the amendment’ and are working to find a solution. 

The Domestic Abuse Bill is in its ’11th hour’ but Refuge has campaigned for an amendment which would make threatening to share explicit imagery an offence under new legislation

Lisa King of Refuge told the newspaper: ‘In a show of amazing commitment many peers stood in the House of Lords at midnight on Monday and called for this vital change to be made to the Bill.

‘The time for change is now – women’s lives and well-being depend on it.’

For help and support or more information, you can call Refuge’s Freephone 24hr National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247 for free, confidential specialist support or visit www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk.