Asked by: Fay Jones (Conservative - Brecon and Radnorshire)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps the Government is taking to help tackle cyberflashing.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The behaviour known as cyberflashing would likely be caught by one or more of a range of existing offences.
However, to ensure that the law is up to date and fully equipped to protect victims from such abuse the Government asked the Law Commission to review the existing criminal law relating to harmful communications online and offline.
The Law Commission has published its final report, and has made a number of recommendations, including the creation of a new offence to capture specifically cyberflashing.
Asked by: Fay Jones (Conservative - Brecon and Radnorshire)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to criminalise the offence of threatening to share explicit images without consent.
Answered by Alex Chalk - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
Activities involving sharing or threatening to share intimate images are captured by existing offences tackling “revenge pornography”, harassment, malicious communications, blackmail, and “coercive or controlling behaviour”.
However, the Government recognises that there is concern over the growth of new technology and the impact on the law in this area.
We have asked the Law Commission to review the law in this area to ensure victims are properly protected. The Law Commission intends to publish a public consultation paper shortly with a view to announcing findings later this year, which the Government will consider carefully.