Revenge porn: MPs under pressure to grant anonymity to victims of sex crime

Revenge-porn victims would be granted automatic anonymity and compensation under a proposed change to the law. The Liberal Democrats claim that the tabled amendment to the policing and crime bill would mean that such people would be treated in the same way as victims of other sex crimes.

Revenge porn, the online posting of sexual pictures or video content of somebody without their consent, became a criminal offence in April 2015.

Police have so far investigated 1,600 cases, but only a handful have resulted in prosecutions. Campaigners claim that the real number of cases is far higher, but victims aren't coming forward because they fear that their identities would be made public. The compensation would make for the fact that few cases result in prosecution, claim the Lib Dems.

It comes after the mother of a 15-year-old victim criticised police for letting the perpetrator off with a caution.

The perpetrator uploaded pictures of the girl superimposed on pornographic images, and received rape threats by telephone and incited her to carry out sex acts. Under current laws, offenders can be jailed for up to two years. A judge must make a court order for the victim's name to be withheld.

"The Liberal Democrats campaigned hard to criminalise revenge porn in the last parliament," said Alistair Carmichael, the party's home affairs spokesperson.

"A year on, it is clear that more must be done to empower victims. That is why we are proposing further measures to offer greater protection and redress to encourage more victims to come forward. I hope that the government will get behind these amendments and stand with the thousands that suffer in silence every year."

MPs are to vote on the proposed amendments of 13 June 2016.