Here at PCD Solicitors, we have expert professionals specialising in cases of revenge porn crime. We can provide you with the legal guidance and representation you need, as well as signposting you to any emotional support you may require. Our highly trained staff are both approachable and understanding, and our only priority is providing our clients with the highest standard of legal support.
For more information on how we can help you, or a family member or friend affected by revenge porn crime, contact us today on 0151 705 8488 or e-mail info@pcdsolicitors.co.uk
Revenge porn, which involves sharing explicit or sexual images without a person’s consent, is an issue that has been brought into sharp focus over recent years, following a series of high-profile cases in the media. Back in April 2015 the government brought into effect tougher laws around revenge porn in a bid to tackle the problem - with a maximum of two years prison time for perpetrators. Despite this, figures are still steadily on the up and it remains a prevalent problem in today's digital society.
Anyone can be affected by revenge porn, but most commonly the perpetrator is an ex-partner or person known to the victim. Revenge porn is a violation of privacy and people who have been targeted often feel humiliated, angry and depressed. It’s important to remember that if you have experienced revenge porn, you are not to blame – only the offender is responsible for this crime taking place.
So what do you do if you find yourself a victim of revenge porn?
Removal
The first priority is to have the images or videos removed from the public domain, for good. You can do this by reaching out to the website/social platform that is hosting the images. This can be done directly, but is usually more effective if the victim uses a solicitor specialising in online privacy cases.
Contacting the website
Many of these sites are not hosted in the UK and some are even created purely for the purpose of hosting revenge porn. The bottom line is it’s not always easy to get images removed quickly. However, if websites in the UK and the EU refuse to remove any images when given notice, a legal claim can be brought against them resulting in a court summons.
Injunctions
If both the perpetrator and the website operator do not respond to your removal requests, it’s time to consider seeking a court injunction. One of these will prevent any offensive images from being published anywhere else and stop their distribution. This process would require the help of a solicitor.
Civil law options
You might instead opt for a civil law approach - whereby you bring a claim against the publisher yourself, rather than making it a police matter. Again, you'd need a solicitor to guide you through the process and this would be at your own cost. You would also need to speak with them about the different types of civil law options available to you.
Criminal law options
Revenge porn is a criminal offence. Although there is not one specific offence which targets this behaviour, it may fall into a number of different categories, including:
- Blackmail
- Voyeurism (if the images were obtained without consent)
- Harassment
- Offences under the Malicious Communication Act, if the CPS are satisfied that the images were published in order to cause anxiety and distress
Again, the best way to take action on any of these legal issues is to contact a lawyer - if possible one who specialises in cybercrime.
Here at PCD Solicitors, we have expert professionals specialising in cases of revenge porn crime. We can provide you with the legal guidance and representation you need, as well as signposting you to any emotional support you may require. Our highly trained staff are both approachable and understanding, and our only priority is providing our clients with the highest standard of legal support.
For more information on how we can help you, or a family member or friend affected by revenge porn crime, contact us our revenge porn solicitors today on 0151 705 8488 or e-mail info@pcdsolicitors.co.uk