Sexual Harassment: Internet

(asked on 18th February 2022) - View Source

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans he has to make cyber flashing a criminal offence.


Answered by
Victoria Atkins Portrait
Victoria Atkins
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
This question was answered on 28th February 2022

The government remains firmly committed to the protection of people from abuse and harm online.

While this disturbing behaviour may already be captured by existing offences the Government is keenly aware of concerns that have been expressed over the misuse of new communications technology. Therefore we asked the Law Commission to review the law on Harmful Online Communications to ensure that the law is up to date and fully equipped to protect victims.

The Law Commission has completed that review and made a number of recommendations, including the creation of a new criminal offence to capture specifically the practice known as cyberflashing.

The Government is carefully considering that recommendation, and potential legislative vehicles, as we aim to introduce a new specific offence to criminalise this behaviour.

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