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Revenge porn: More than 200 prosecuted under new law | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
More than 200 people have been prosecuted under a new revenge porn law, a Crown Prosecution Service report on crimes against women shows. | |
Data for England and Wales also show rape, domestic abuse and sex offences account for almost a fifth of the total CPS workload, with prosecutions and convictions at record levels. | |
The CPS says improvements are due to extra resources and better training. | The CPS says improvements are due to extra resources and better training. |
But charities say more needs to be done to encourage reporting of offences. | But charities say more needs to be done to encourage reporting of offences. |
The CPS's annual Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) report, which incorporates data on men and boys, has been conducted since 2007. | The CPS's annual Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) report, which incorporates data on men and boys, has been conducted since 2007. |
It became an offence to share private sexual photographs or films without the subject's consent in England and Wales in April 2015. | It became an offence to share private sexual photographs or films without the subject's consent in England and Wales in April 2015. |
So-called revenge porn often involves an ex-partner uploading sexual images of the victim to cause the victim humiliation or embarrassment. | |
What does the report show? | What does the report show? |
In the year 2015-16, ending in March: | In the year 2015-16, ending in March: |
Social media was also identified as a "growing trend" connected to offences including revenge porn, and in cases of coercive control the CPS found defendants monitored phone messages and emails and used GPS tracking. | Social media was also identified as a "growing trend" connected to offences including revenge porn, and in cases of coercive control the CPS found defendants monitored phone messages and emails and used GPS tracking. |
Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders said changes in the way sexual offences are prosecuted have helped improve conviction rates. | |
She said she had doubled resources in specialist units handling rape and serious sexual offence cases, and that prosecutors received detailed training. | |
"Today a rape, domestic abuse, sexual offence or child abuse case is more likely to be prosecuted and convicted than ever before," she added, but there was "still more to be done to ensure all victims receive the service they deserve." | "Today a rape, domestic abuse, sexual offence or child abuse case is more likely to be prosecuted and convicted than ever before," she added, but there was "still more to be done to ensure all victims receive the service they deserve." |
Revenge porn became a specific offence in Scotland in April when the Abusive Behaviour and Sexual Harm Act came into effect, and was made a crime in Northern Ireland in February through the amendment of an existing law. | |
Analysis | Analysis |
By Danny Shaw, Home Affairs Correspondent | By Danny Shaw, Home Affairs Correspondent |
Although this category of offences, Violence against Women and Girls, includes crimes against men and boys, the vast majority of victims are female. | Although this category of offences, Violence against Women and Girls, includes crimes against men and boys, the vast majority of victims are female. |
In years gone by, their allegations were often not taken seriously; violence in the home was treated as "just a domestic" with police reluctant to get involved; prosecutions weren't considered or were abandoned too readily unless the case was clear-cut. | In years gone by, their allegations were often not taken seriously; violence in the home was treated as "just a domestic" with police reluctant to get involved; prosecutions weren't considered or were abandoned too readily unless the case was clear-cut. |
These figures, however, together with a series of new criminal offences, provide evidence of real change in the justice system, with the CPS more willing to prosecute than ever before. | These figures, however, together with a series of new criminal offences, provide evidence of real change in the justice system, with the CPS more willing to prosecute than ever before. |
The question is - do they and the police have sufficient staff to cope with the workload? At a time of scarce resources there's a risk of burn-out. | The question is - do they and the police have sufficient staff to cope with the workload? At a time of scarce resources there's a risk of burn-out. |
Rachel Krys from the End Violence Against Women coalition welcomed the report, but said: "The majority of women and girls subject to these crimes do not report them to the police, and the specialist services which support them are fighting for survival." | |
Polly Neate, chief executive of Women's Aid, said the rise in prosecutions and convictions was because "survivors of domestic abuse are starting to have more confidence in the criminal justice system. | |
"However, we know that much more work is still needed, particularly in understanding of the nature and impact of coercive control." | "However, we know that much more work is still needed, particularly in understanding of the nature and impact of coercive control." |
Rebecca Hitchin from the charity Rape Crisis said some sexual offence victims may still be reluctant to come forward through a fear of not being believed or because of a "potential for backlash" from family and peers. | |
She said a lengthy and complicated prosecution process can also discourage victims from coming forward. | |
Have you reported a sexual offence to the police? What was your experience? Or did you feel you couldn't report a crime? Email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | Have you reported a sexual offence to the police? What was your experience? Or did you feel you couldn't report a crime? Email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
Or comment here: | Or comment here: |