Online Harms: Intimate Images

Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede Excerpts

Wednesday 28th October 2020 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Scott of Bybrook (Con)]

My Lords, the police and the courts are well equipped to deal with those who share or threaten to share intimate images, both online and offline. Perhaps the most significant development in this area was the creation of the revenge porn offence, which came into effect in 2005. That has a maximum prison sentence of two years. Since 2005, more than 700 people have been put in prison because of that law.

[Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede (Lab) [V]]

My Lords, surely the Minister agrees that all the questions raised today are very likely to be raised again when we have the Domestic Abuse Bill. That Bill is a suitable and very current vehicle with which to address those issues. Therefore, can the Minister undertake to look positively at any amendments tabled so that these scourges to our society—particularly to young women—can be addressed?

[Baroness Scott of Bybrook (Con)]

I have already given that undertaking. The Government will look at all the amendments to the Domestic Abuse Bill put forward.