Revenge porn to carry two year sentence under new law
A government clampdown on revenge porn will see those convicted facing a maximum sentence of up to two years imprisonment following the establishment of a specific offence for the crime.
It follows rapid growth in instances of people, many of them young, posting indecent images of former partners online, prompting demands for action.
The new law targets any individual caught sharing ‘private, sexual images of someone without consent and with intent to cause distress,’ and encompasses both online and offline sharing to include the likes of Facebook, Twitter and other messaging systems as well as instances where material is shown in person.
Justice secretary Chris Grayling said: “Crime has fallen, serious offenders are going to prison for longer and now we have changed the law to deliver tougher and swifter justice for victims and the public.
“As well as bringing in a range of vital new offences and other important legal changes our reforms are strengthening sentencing powers to provide better protection for our communities.”
Previously these crimes was punishable under existing laws, although the maximum sentence for sending an abusive message was just six months.