# data[].attributes.headline
11/5/26 Significant drop in sextortion reports after hard-hitting prevention campaign

# data[].attributes.subject
11/5/26 Significant drop in sextortion reports after hard-hitting prevention campaign

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
A hard-hitting Nottinghamshire Police campaign has helped reduce reports of sextortion by 78 percent across the force area.

Sextortion is a type of online blackmail, where criminals threaten to share nude or semi-nude photographs of their victim (often to the victim's personal contacts on social media) or information about them if money isn't paid or if the victim fails to comply with some other harmful demand.

In some cases, criminals pose as 'young and attractive' women online and then befriend men usually in their teens or early 20s on their social media platforms.

They will encourage them to send naked pictures or videos of themselves and then use that material against them, threatening to send it to family and friends unless they are paid.

Nottinghamshire Police launched an eye-catching campaign last year, to raise awareness of this devastating crime type and prevent people from becoming victims.

Our campaign was launched following a steep rise in the number of sextortion reports across our city and county.

During 2024, the force investigated 403 blackmail cases, 265 of which were sextortion offences.

To help prevent more young people falling victim to sextortion, we launched an awareness-raising campaign, working closely with our city university wellbeing teams.

Our prevention work included deployments of a digivan used to promote our campaign messaging to students on large screens at university campuses and other pop-up locations.

We have also worked with the Revenge Porn Helpline - a service which supports adult victims of intimate image abuse in the UK - to create educational training packages relating to both sextortion and 'catfishing' to be used to help victims.

Catfishing is when somebody creates a fake online persona with the intention of deceiving others.

This could be for a variety of reasons, such as extorting money from them, to spark up a romance, or simply for their own satisfaction.

Since we launched our sextortion campaign, the number of sextortion reports that we received has reduced from 65 (received between 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025) to 14 (received between 1 April 2025 to 24 March 2026).

Detective Chief Inspector Chris Berryman, whose team investigates sextortion cases, said: "While it's encouraging that we've seen a significant reduction in sextortion reports since launching our campaign, I want to reassure the public that we're not complacent with these results.

"We remain focused on preventing and reducing these types of crimes even further and providing even better support to victims, as well as continuing to investigate reports and working hard to bring offenders to justice.

"Key objectives of our campaign have included educating victims that they haven't done anything wrong, that they are the victim, as well as reassuring them that they won't be prosecuted, they are not alone, and that there is support available to them.

"We know that sextortion can have a devastating impact on young people and their families and it can be a difficult topic to discuss, causing distress and fear for victims as well as making them feel deep shame and embarrassment.

"Through our ongoing proactive work with our partners, including our universities and the Revenge Porn Helpline, we want to remind potentially vulnerable young people of the ways they can prevent themselves falling victim to sextortion as well as highlighting how they can access help and support."

To find out more about our sextortion campaign, and to watch our video, visit Sextortion | Nottinghamshire Police

The Revenge Porn Helpline supports all adult victims of intimate image abuse in the UK.

It provides advice, guidance, and support with helping to remove intimate content which has been non-consensually shared online.

The helpline is open from 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays). The phone number for the helpline is 0345 6000 459.

For more details about the Revenge Porn Helpline, including other ways to get in touch, visit Revenge Porn Helpline - 0345 6000 459 | Revenge Porn Helpline

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Significant drop in sextortion reports after hard-hitting prevention campaign

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A hard-hitting Nottinghamshire Police campaign has helped reduce reports of sextortion by 78 percent across the force area.

# data[].attributes.headline
8/4/26 Aston University launches innovative project to protect young women and girls from dark web violence

# data[].attributes.subject
8/4/26 Aston University launches innovative project to protect young women and girls from dark web violence

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Aston University launches innovative project to protect young women and girls from dark web violence | Ethical Marketing News

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Aston University is launching a new online safety resource – said to the first of its kind in the UK - designed to help protect young women and girls from violence and abuse on the dark web. The new toolkit features helpful tips for parents and guardians on warning signs of abuse as well as

# data[].attributes.headline
8/4/26 Trigger warning: Refuge’s hard-hitting film reveals the hidden threat women face at home

# data[].attributes.subject
8/4/26 Trigger warning: Refuge’s hard-hitting film reveals the hidden threat women face at home

# data[].attributes.body
Refuge contact information Need help now? Contact the National Domestic Abuse Helpline for free, 24/7 on 0808 2000 247

# data[].attributes.headline
8/4/26 Refuge survey exposes public blindspot on domestic abuse at home

# data[].attributes.subject
8/4/26 Refuge survey exposes public blindspot on domestic abuse at home

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Refuge survey exposes public blindspot on domestic abuse at home

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Refuge survey exposes public blindspot on domestic abuse at home - Refuge

# data[].attributes.headline
17/3/26 New online reporting service for victims of intimate image abuse

# data[].attributes.subject
17/3/26 New online reporting service for victims of intimate image abuse

# data[].attributes.body
A new online reporting service has been launched in England and Wales by the UK Police to support victims and survivors of image-based abuse. The service offers advice to anyone whose private images have been shared without consent, including assistance in getting them removed from online platforms, preventing future victimisation, and preserving forensic evidence. It also brings together reporting routes with help and support available through the Revenge Porn Helpline

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
New online reporting service for victims of intimate image abuse

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A new online reporting service has launched in England and Wales to support people affected by intimate image abuse.

# data[].attributes.body
A new law came into force on 6 February 2026 making creating or asking someone to create a non-consensual sexually explicit AI-generated image, or soliciting such an image, a criminal offence. The law is part of

the Data Use and Access Act 2025 and comes in the aftermath of the Grok scandal, which saw approximately 3 million sexualised images produced. The Home Office also announced a collaboration with Accelerated Capability Environment, DSIT, DCMS, HMRC and the Alan Turing Institute to create a science-led framework which will identify gaps in deepfake detection.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This section has no associated Explanatory Notes

# data[].attributes.headline
24/2/26 Stronger laws for tech firms to ensure you don’t see unsolicited nudes

# data[].attributes.subject
24/2/26 Stronger laws for tech firms to ensure you don’t see unsolicited nudes

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Online Safety Act strengthened as 'cyberflashing' becomes a priority offence

Dating apps and social media platforms now have to take proactive steps to prevent this vile content before users see it

New law follows a historic government strategy to halve Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) within a decade, which included a commitment to make cyberflashing a 'priority offence' under the Online Safety Act

People using dating apps and social media platforms will be better protected from receiving unsolicited nude images, as a new law compelling tech firms to stop this type of content before it reaches users comes into force today (Thursday 8 January).

Platforms will be required to take proactive steps to prevent this vile content from appearing in the first place, not just react after the harm is done. Tech firms will now face some of the strongest requirements under the Online Safety Act as 'cyberflashing' becomes a Priority Offence.

Companies could tackle these images for example by using automated systems that pre-emptively detect and hide the image, implementing moderation tools or stricter content policies.

Those that fail to comply could face fines of up to 10% of their qualifying worldwide revenue, or have their services blocked in the UK.

Bumble was the first dating app to explicitly moderate cyberflashing to protect its members from seeing unwanted pictures.

The women-first dating app launched Private Detector, an AI-powered feature that automatically detects and blurs nudity in images sent within chats. It then alerts the recipient who can choose to view, block, or report the image. The AI model is carefully trained with vast datasets to avoid misclassification.

Liz Kendall, Technology Secretary, said:

We've cracked down on perpetrators of this vile crime - now we're turning up the heat on tech firms. Platforms are now required by law to detect and prevent this material.

The internet must be a space where women and girls feel safe, respected, and able to thrive.

Elymae Cedeno, VP of Trust and Safety at Bumble said:

Receiving unsolicited sexual images is a daily violation that disproportionately impacts women and undermines their sense of safety online. Strengthening the law to make cyberflashing a Priority Offence is an important step toward ensuring platforms proactively address this behaviour to better protect members.

As part of our long standing safety commitments, Bumble introduced features like Private Detector, which uses AI to identify and blur nude images in chats, giving members greater control over what they see. We hear regularly from our community about the impact of this behaviour, and we welcome measures that increase accountability and help create a safer digital environment.

Ofcom will now consult on new codes of practice, setting out exactly what steps platforms must take to protect users from unsolicited sexual images.

The priority offence marks another step in making the online world safer, particularly for women and children, who are disproportionately targeted. 1 in 3 teenage girls has received unsolicited sexual images*. This government is serious about ending that.

This builds on the government's wider commitment to tackle online abuse and halve violence against women and girls, making clear that the digital world is not a law-free zone.

Minister for Safeguarding and Violence against Women and Girls Jess Phillips said:

For too long cyberflashing has been just another degrading abuse women and girls are expected to endure. We are changing this.

By placing the responsibility on tech companies to block this vile content before users see it, we are preventing women and girls from being harmed in the first place.

We will deploy the full power of the state to make this country safe for women and girls, both online and offline.

Through the cross-government strategy to Build a Safer Society for Women and Girls, published on 18 December, we committed to making the 'cyberflashing' offence a 'priority offence' under the Online Safety Act.

These strengthened protections will tackle the problem at the root, before women are subject to this gross violation.

Note to editors

The survey was carried out by YouGov between people aged 12-18-year-olds in England.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Stronger laws for tech firms to ensure you don't see unsolicited nudes

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Dating apps and social media platforms must now prevent cyberflashing, as it becomes a priority offence under the Online Safety Act.

# data[].attributes.headline
24/2/26 If you’ve been a victim of Grok’s AI ‘undressing’ tool - here’s what you need to do

# data[].attributes.subject
24/2/26 If you’ve been a victim of Grok’s AI ‘undressing’ tool - here’s what you need to do

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
If you’ve been a victim of Grok’s AI ‘undressing’ tool - here’s what you need to do

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
There’s an alarming new trend emerging online - Elon Musk’s Grok AI chatbot is at the centre of controversy that’s violating seemingly ordinary photos of women by digitally ‘undressing’ them. The bot, which Musk recently described as “on the side of the angels” after someone claimed other AI bots ar…

# data[].attributes.headline
26/1/26 Could Your Workplace Be Breaking the Law? Learn the law and Why Misogyny Training Matters

# data[].attributes.subject
26/1/26 Could Your Workplace Be Breaking the Law? Learn the law and Why Misogyny Training Matters

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
Communities Inc. - Connected Communities Work Better Together

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Could Your Workplace Be Breaking the Law? Learn the law and Why Misogyny Training Matters - Communities Inc.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Learn how the Workers Protection Act affects your workplace. Discover practical bystander intervention strategies and Stand By Her training for HR and EDI leads.

# data[].attributes.headline
19/1/26 Violence against women and girls (VAWG) strategy will focus on healthy relationships and consent, and tackle relationship abuse through a new helpline.

# data[].attributes.subject
19/1/26 Violence against women and girls (VAWG) strategy will focus on healthy relationships and consent, and tackle relationship abuse through a new helpline.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
VAWG strategy to better protect children from misogyny and abuse

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Violence against women and girls (VAWG) strategy will focus on healthy relationships and consent, and tackle relationship abuse through a new helpline.

# data[].attributes.headline
6/1/26 Sexist abuse and death threats: the dark truth of being a woman working in retail today

# data[].attributes.subject
6/1/26 Sexist abuse and death threats: the dark truth of being a woman working in retail today

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Sexist abuse and death threats: the dark truth of being a woman working in retail today

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Women and non-binary shop assistants are bearing the brunt – but the ‘customer is always right’... Right?

# data[].attributes.headline
6/1/26 Sextortion - Do you know who you are really talking to

# data[].attributes.subject
6/1/26 Sextortion - Do you know who you are really talking to

# data[].attributes.headline
9/12/25 Gender + Tech Research Lab Newsletter

# data[].attributes.subject
9/12/25 Gender + Tech Research Lab Newsletter

# data[].attributes.body
Advancing Research to Create a Safer and Inclusive Digital World

# data[].attributes.headline
9/12/25 New domestic tech abuse handbook launched to help victims

# data[].attributes.subject
9/12/25 New domestic tech abuse handbook launched to help victims

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
New domestic tech abuse handbook launched to help victims

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A new research-led digital handbook for victims of domestic tech abuse has been launched by Surrey Domestic Abuse Partnership (SDAP) and Royal Holloway.

# data[].attributes.headline
10/11/25 New laws to target online abuse and pornography

# data[].attributes.subject
10/11/25 New laws to target online abuse and pornography

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
New laws to target online abuse and pornography

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Protection for women and girls boosted with new amendments on online abuse and pornography tabled to the Crime & Policing Bill

# data[].attributes.headline
7/10/25 My teen boyfriend abused me using my phone - it's time tech giants took responsibility'

# data[].attributes.subject
7/10/25 My teen boyfriend abused me using my phone - it's time tech giants took responsibility'

# data[].attributes.body
With the rising threat of tech-facilitated abuse of women and girls, we speak to Marnie who experienced domestic violence and coercive control as a teenagers ahead of Refuge's Tech Summit

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
‘My teen boyfriend used my phone to control me - then locked me in his bedroom’

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
With the rising threat of tech-facilitated abuse of women and girls, we speak to Marnie who experienced domestic violence and coercive control as a teenagers ahead of Refuge’s Tech Summit

# data[].attributes.headline
2/9/25 Rayner says Farage ‘failing young women’ with plan to scrap Online Safety Act

# data[].attributes.subject
2/9/25 Rayner says Farage ‘failing young women’ with plan to scrap Online Safety Act

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Rayner says Farage ‘failing young women’ with plan to scrap Online Safety Act

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Deputy PM says move would cause rise in ‘revenge porn’, as Labour launches attack ads against Reform UK leader

# data[].attributes.headline
15/7/25 Deepfakes are old misogyny amplified by tech’ – Sexism expert

# data[].attributes.subject
15/7/25 Deepfakes are old misogyny amplified by tech’ – Sexism expert

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
‘Deepfakes are old misogyny amplified by tech’ – Sexism expert

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The tech revolution is ushering in huge benefits, but it’s also doing untold harm - with many women and children facing exploitation, abuse and worse online.

# data[].attributes.headline
15/7/25 It can hide in plain sight’: The rise of technology-facilitated coercive control

# data[].attributes.subject
15/7/25 It can hide in plain sight’: The rise of technology-facilitated coercive control

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
A rise in smartphone use is making it easier for perpetrators of coercive control to abuse victims through digital technology.

New figures from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) have revealed 224 incidents of coercive control have been recorded in the last financial year. Sixty per cent of which involved harassment, monitoring and tracking.

"Smartphone use has skyrocketed in the past ten years and so has the incidence of domestic violence involving digital technology," said Anna Baltins, the Director Domestic and Family Violence at Legal Aid NSW.

The organisation has seen an alarming increase of almost 8,000 women in NSW seeking support over the last financial year.

"Technology-facilitated coercive control is becoming increasingly common and it's vital that people recognise the signs of it," said Baltins, noting that this abuse "can involve victims being forced to hand over their phone or to give the perpetrator access to their calls, messages, emails, social media pages and bank accounts."

"This non-physical abuse is insidious. It can hide in plain sight and can lead to or reinforce physical violence."

Other incidents the organisations see include debts being incurred in the victim's name, victims being tracked through banking apps, toll accounts and GPS trackers in their cars, phones or even kids' phones, Baltin says.

"We are also seeing other coercive behaviours that involve victims being isolated from family and friends, stopped from getting jobs, and being told what to wear and where they can go."

One woman, Rada*, sought help from the Domestic Violence Unit after Jon* started to monitor her phone. He checked her emails and texts, as well as installed security cameras inside the house and monitored her transport care statements to track her movement.

Rada* wasn't allowed a bank account or access to their joint accounts, which Jon* had full control over. He even threatened to harm Rada's* family overseas if she reported the situation to the police or talked to anyone about his abuse.

Following police involvement, an ADVO was applied to protect Rada*, but the abuse she experienced is unfortunately not uncommon for women. In the past two years there has been a 69 per cent increase in the number of women seeking legal advice from the Legal Aid NSW's Domestic Violence Unit. In the past ten years, this figure increased 700 per cent.

The DVU includes a highly specialised team of lawyers, mental health professionals, case workers and financial counsellors. So far, this year the organisation has provided about 3,000 legal advice services, which is the highest number in five years.

"The legal system can be very daunting for victim-survivors," said Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison.

"The Domestic Violence Unit, working with the Women's Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service, helps them navigate the process and makes sure their interests are advocated for and protected," she said, adding that last year, coercive control became a criminal offence.

"The support the Domestic Violence Unit provides to victim-survivors in recognising financial abuse and tech-facilitated coercive control, as well as recovering money for them, allows them to reclaim their lives and live free from violence and abuse."
*Pseudonyms have been used to protect the client's identity Legal Aid NSW is the main provider of domestic violence legal representation services in NSW. For free legal support, call its Domestic Violence Unit on 1800 979 529. If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family or sexual violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au for online chat and video call services. If you are concerned about your behaviour or use of violence, you can contact the Men's Referral Service on 1300 766 491 or visit http://www.ntv.org.au.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
'It can hide in plain sight': The rise of technology-facilitated coercive control

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A rise in smartphone use is making it easier for perpetrators of coercive control to abuse victims through digital technology.

# data[].attributes.headline
1/6/25 Tech abuse: What is digital coercive control and why is it increasing? Includes guidance on support services

# data[].attributes.subject
1/6/25 Tech abuse: What is digital coercive control and why is it increasing? Includes guidance on support services

# data[].attributes.headline
1/6/25 Nottinghamshire Police -Sextortion who are you really talking to?

# data[].attributes.subject
1/6/25 Nottinghamshire Police -Sextortion who are you really talking to?

# data[].attributes.headline
13/5/25 I'm the CEO of the UK's largest domestic abuse charity. Here's what I wish people knew about image-based abuse

# data[].attributes.subject
13/5/25 I'm the CEO of the UK's largest domestic abuse charity. Here's what I wish people knew about image-based abuse

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
I’m the CEO of the UK’s largest domestic abuse charity. Here’s what I wish people knew about image-based abuse

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
“At Refuge, almost all the survivors we support have experienced some form of tech-facilitated abuse.”

# data[].attributes.headline
13/5/25 Safer Spaces looking for volunteers for festivals

# data[].attributes.subject
13/5/25 Safer Spaces looking for volunteers for festivals

# data[].attributes.body
Safer Spaces Now is on the lookout for volunteers to help make festivals safer and more inclusive. By joining, you can attend events like Glastonbury without purchasing a ticket. You'll work some shifts and still have plenty of time to enjoy the festival. Perks include access to secure camping areas, free meals, and hot showers. Sounds like something you would like to support? Check out their volunteer page to indicate your interest!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Join us in our mission to prevent domestic abuse and sexual violence against women and girls, at festivals and events through education, training and immediate specialist support.

# data[].attributes.headline
10/3/25 Government pledges to protect more women from violence

# data[].attributes.subject
10/3/25 Government pledges to protect more women from violence

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
This International Women's Day, the government has reiterated its commitment to halving violence against women and girls in a decade.
This International Women's Day, as statistics show that a woman is killed on average every 3 days in the UK, the government has reiterated its commitment to halving violence against women and girls in a decade.

For the past 10 years, Jess Phillips has read the names of women suspected of being killed by men on International Women's Day, provided by the Femicide Census. But yesterday she read out the names for the first time from the front benches as a Home Office Minister, and reiterated that ensuring our streets and homes are safer for women is now a top government priority.

This comes as the data shows that 1 in 5 homicides are domestic homicides and that over the last decade there were:

898 female victims of domestic homicides

of these, 698 victims (78%) were killed by a partner or ex-partner

and over 9 in 10 female homicide victims were killed by a man (92%)

These are numbers that the government has committed to change.

Following the toxic influence we have seen on and offline from misogynistic figures, Minister Phillips also pledged that the government's milestone violence against women and girls (VAWG) strategy, expected to be published in the summer, will include actions specifically addressing the root causes of abuse - including underlying behaviours held by some men and boys.

Under the Prime Minister's Plan for Change, the government has already set out a number of initiatives to tackle these appalling numbers and the scourge of abuse suffered by women and girls in this country.

Work is already under way to improve the policing and criminal justice system response, relentlessly pursue dangerous perpetrators and provide enhanced support for victims, and includes:

a cross-government approach to tackling VAWG: to deliver transformational change and ensure efforts remain coordinated and effective, we are spearheading a cross-government approach to tackling VAWG through the Safer Streets Mission Board

Raneem's Law: last month, domestic abuse specialists were embedded in 999 control rooms in the first five police forces under 'Raneem's Law', to help improve the police response to domestic abuse - these specialists are advising on risk assessments, working with officers on the ground and ensuring that victims are referred to appropriate support services swiftly

measures to tackle spiking: in November, the Prime Minister announced a raft of measures to tackle spiking including a new criminal offence for spiking and new spiking training for up to 10,000 staff in the night-time economy to ensure they have the skills to support victims and prevent incidents

new Domestic Abuse Protection Orders: in November, we launched these orders in select police forces and courts and in the short time since they have launched, we have seen them being used to protect victims, including those experiencing coercive and controlling behaviour - we are going even further and onboarding an additional two sites over the next two months

measures to protect stalking victims: in December, we announced a package of new measures to protect victims of stalking, including helping ensure victims have the right to know the identity of online stalkers and widening the use of Stalking Protection Orders which can ban stalkers from going within a certain distance of victims or force them to attend behaviour programmes

The Home Office lit up in the colours of green, purple and white to mark International Women's Day across four estates in the UK in a symbol of how crucial this priority is for Keir Starmer's government.

For the first time, each of the 95 women's names provided by the Femicide Census were displayed in the Home Office's headquarters in London for staff to view.

Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, Jess Phillips yesterday said:

Today, for the first time from the front benches as a Home Office minister, I have performed the heavy task of reading out the names of women suspected of being killed by a man over the last year, provided by the Femicide Census. The statistics show that a woman is killed in the UK on average every 3 days - a number that is unacceptably high.

Each had more of their life to live and was unfairly torn away from their loved ones, and each deserves to be recognised.

The government's commitment to halving violence against women and girls in a decade is not an abstract goal - it is a top priority. From embedding domestic abuse specialists in 999 control rooms to launching new domestic abuse protection orders, we are taking action. But the names on today's list remind us we must do more, and we must do it faster.

Julie Davey, Killed Women Trustee, yesterday said:

Each and every year too many women are murdered by violent men. That has to stop and we welcome the government's mission to halve violence against women and girls in the next decade and the action it is taking to stem this devastating tide.

The reading out of the names of killed women has become a sombre but important tradition - and we are pleased to see that duty move to the government front benches where it belongs. We know ministers are focussed on protecting the women we are here to fight for, and delivering justice for those whose loved ones have been cruelly snatched away.

But this must be just the beginning - we hope government will deliver urgent action to address hidden homicides so that the lives of all women are recognised in the future. We look forward to working with ministers as they work to deliver justice.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Government pledges to protect more women from violence | Home Office

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This International Women's Day, the government has reiterated its commitment to halving violence against women and girls in a decade.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Bad romance: how to take control of your dating data and avoid a clinch from a cyberstalker

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
There are plenty of fish in the sea… and more than a few bottom dwellers

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
What does consent mean and why is it important

# data[].attributes.headline
6/1/25 How Tech is being used for domestic abuse

# data[].attributes.subject
6/1/25 How Tech is being used for domestic abuse

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Expert reveals how abusers utilise smart homes to terrorise victims

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Frontline worker reveals domestic abusers are weaponising everything from smart locks to home speakers

# data[].attributes.headline
6/1/25 Stalking victims to get right to know abuser's identity

# data[].attributes.subject
6/1/25 Stalking victims to get right to know abuser's identity

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Stalking victims to be given right to know abuser’s identity

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Victims will be told the identity of online perpetrators at the earliest opportunity, under the new reforms.

# data[].attributes.headline
6/1/25 Georgia Harrison launches sexual consent campaign

# data[].attributes.subject
6/1/25 Georgia Harrison launches sexual consent campaign

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Love Island’s Georgia Harrison launches sexual consent campaign

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Georgia Harrison’s former partner was jailed in 2023 for sharing a sexually explicit video of her.

# data[].attributes.headline
9/12/24 Know who’s spying on you with new Kaspersky feature for Android

# data[].attributes.subject
9/12/24 Know who’s spying on you with new Kaspersky feature for Android

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Know who’s spying on you with new Kaspersky feature for Android

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Kaspersky is introducing a new feature in its mobile apps for Android – Who’s Spying on Me, extending its protection against digital stalking. In addition to stalkerware detection, the new feature provides protection from offline stalking by detecting suspicious devices tracking the location of a person or object via Bluetooth technology.

# data[].attributes.headline
09/12/24 Skincare, starring Elizabeth Banks, portrays the devastating impact of deepfake technology and so-called ‘revenge porn’

# data[].attributes.subject
09/12/24 Skincare, starring Elizabeth Banks, portrays the devastating impact of deepfake technology and so-called ‘revenge porn’

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Skincare, starring Elizabeth Banks, portrays the devastating impact of deepfake technology and so-called ‘revenge porn’

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
It’s so much more than a “bonkers thriller”.

# data[].attributes.headline
9/12/24 Force launches campaign to ‘Know More’ about online abuse and harassment of women and girls

# data[].attributes.subject
9/12/24 Force launches campaign to ‘Know More’ about online abuse and harassment of women and girls

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Police Professional | Force launches campaign to ‘Know More’ about online abuse and harassment of women and girls

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
South Yorkshire Police is calling on people across the county to ‘Know More’ about online abuse and harassment against woman and girls as it launches a new campaign.

# data[].attributes.headline
25/11/24 Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

# data[].attributes.subject
25/11/24 Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
In 2023, the Trade Union Congress revealed that 3 in 5 women have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace. While less recently, in 2017, the BBC shared that a fifth of men had also experienced sexual harassment in the workplace.

Every business has the potential for problems with inappropriate employee behaviour. What has changed is the confidence and willingness of employees to speak up about it since more media attention and research has been done on the issue.

This change means that employers and senior management teams now need to be better equipped to understand what sexual harassment is to facilitate a safe space for employees to speak out and undertake regular training to keep up to date with the correct way to approach sexual harassment legislation.

Putting an end to sexual harassment at work

What is sexual harassment?

Sexual harassment is an issue that affects individuals across various sectors, leading to significant psychological, emotional, and professional consequences. It encompasses a range of unwelcome behaviours, including unwanted advances, inappropriate remarks, and physical assault.

The impact of sexual harassment is profound, causing mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD, as well as hindering career progression and creating toxic work environments.

Despite legal frameworks like the Equality Act 2010, which aims to protect individuals from harassment, many victims still face barriers in reporting incidents due to fear of retaliation, stigma, and inadequate institutional responses.

Laws on sexual harassment in the workplace

What is the Equality Act 2010?

For businesses in the UK, the Equality Act 2010 clarifies the rights of those who believe they've encountered harassment. It also clarifies the rights of those they're accusing of harassment. The Act defines harassment as "...behaviour which causes alarm or distress".

In a sexual harassment context, this is specifically defined as behaviour that either violates an individual's dignity or creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment. A person can be in breach if their behaviour intends to cause these reactions.

This behaviour is a serious matter, given that harassment is discrimination under the Act. The Act also imposes a duty on employers to stop such behaviour when identified.

Failure to do this effectively may end in an employment tribunal claim unless the employer can demonstrate they took reasonable steps to prevent harassment.

It's important to respond to allegations quickly, sympathetically and impartially - no matter how senior the position of the accused individual. In terms of policies and procedures, you also need to have a sexual harassment policy in place.

What is the Worker Protection Act 2023?

The Worker Protection Act 2023 will come into force on 26 October 2024. This act is an amendment of the Equality Act 2010, which aims to strengthen existing protection against sexual harassment at work. Employers will need to 'take reasonable steps' to ensure the protection of employees against sexual harassment.

The new duty to prevent sexual harassment in the UK will be enforceable by employment tribunals, which can increase compensation for victims by up to 25% if an employer has breached their duty. Given that the average sex discrimination award in 2022 was £37,607, this uplift can be significant.

Employers should take steps to comply with this obligation, especially those with customer-facing employees, due to the reinstated liability for third-party harassment. Beyond defending themselves by proving they took reasonable steps, organisations should support vulnerable employees.

By October 2024, employers should implement measures such as maintaining a harassment complaint register while ensuring data protection, identifying and mitigating harassment risks for different roles, updating and promoting anti-harassment training, and installing visible signs to report harassment.

Navigating the Worker Protection Act

Our recent webinar saw partners from Clyde & Co, Chris Fletcher and Chris Holme, with the Group Head of HR at Walker Crips, Kameka McLean, unpack the prevention of sexual harassment at work. This discussion revolved around the new positive duty on employers to prevent sexual harassment, third-party harassment and liability and compensation uplift.

The current state of sexual harassment in the workplace remains a significant concern, as highlighted by a 2023 TUC poll revealing that 58% of women have experienced harassment at work. The issue is particularly prevalent among younger workers, with 36% of individuals aged 18-34 reporting that they have faced sexual harassment, abuse, or violence from third parties while on the job.

Despite these alarming figures, only one in three women who experience sexual harassment report the incidents to their employers, reflecting a substantial gap in addressing and resolving these issues. This indicates that workplace cultures may still struggle to provide safe, supportive environments where individuals feel empowered to speak out against harassment.

A positive legal obligation on employers

The Worker Protection Act 2023 introduces a proactive approach to preventing sexual harassment. There is now a legal obligation on employers to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment.

We asked the attendees how prepared they felt for this new duty, and the results reflect a degree of confidence, which is encouraging.

Sexual harassment at work is defined under the Equality Act 2010 as unwanted conduct of a sexual nature that violates an individual's dignity or creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, or offensive environment. For behaviour to be classified as harassment, it must first be deemed "unwanted" by the recipient.

This excludes consensual relationships of a sexual nature. The conduct must also be sexual in nature, which can encompass various actions, such as inappropriate comments or physical gestures, such as hugging. It's important to apply common sense when evaluating such behaviour. Even if the person engaging in the behaviour does not intend to violate another's dignity, if their actions have this effect, it constitutes sexual harassment. In such cases, the victim's feelings and the reasonableness of their reaction must be considered.

Employers are vicariously liable for acts of sexual harassment committed by their employees during the course of their employment, including during work-related social events like drinks after work. However, employers can defend themselves by proving they have taken "all reasonable steps" to prevent harassment. This is, however, an extremely difficult defence to establish and many employers fail to make this defence.

The introduction of the Worker Protection Act has increased this responsibility by placing a positive legal duty on employers to take reasonable steps to protect employees from harassment. Failure to fulfil this duty could lead to a 25% increase in compensation awarded by tribunals, making it critical for employers to actively safeguard their workplaces and demonstrate these efforts to employees and stakeholders.

Impact of sexual harassment at work

Beyond employment law, criminal offences such as stalking and sexual assault, as well as health and safety requirements, further underline the necessity for employers to address harassment at work.

Sexual harassment can have a devastating personal impact on individuals, causing emotional distress and creating an intimidating environment that discourages them from coming to work. It also affects witnesses and can have a lasting impact on the accused, highlighting the need for complaints to be handled swiftly and sensitively.

Inaction or mishandling of sexual harassment claims can also severely damage an organisation's reputation and legal standing. From a broader perspective, sexual harassment impacts overall employee well-being and workplace culture.

Although sexual harassment may often be viewed through the lens of men behaving inappropriately towards women, it can affect people of all genders and sexual orientations, including men against men, women against men, and women against women.

This reality requires a cultural shift in how sexual harassment is understood and addressed, as it is not confined to any one group. With evolving societal norms and increased accountability, organisations must adapt and take greater responsibility to create inclusive, respectful environments that prevent harassment and promote positive workplace cultures.

Practical steps for employers

Under the new Worker Protection Act, employers must take proactive steps to address sexual harassment by fostering a culture of zero tolerance and open communication. This means embedding zero-tolerance policies across the organisation and creating a workplace where employees feel empowered to report inappropriate behaviour without fear of retaliation.

Employers should encourage collective accountability, hold bystanders responsible for intervening when they witness harassment, and emphasise that sexual harassment is everyone's responsibility.

Clear definitions of sexual harassment and examples of unacceptable behaviours are essential to ensuring accountability at all levels. The new legal duty also requires active measures, meaning employers must go beyond policy creation and take tangible steps to prevent sexual harassment.

Employers need to implement comprehensive sexual harassment policies that engage staff, ensure ongoing monitoring, and promote regular reporting. Establishing a clear, anonymous reporting channel and a case management system for handling complaints is crucial.

Policies must be updated in accordance with the new legal requirements, and there should be a strong focus on inclusion and diversity. Managers' specialised training should be regularly updated to keep pace with developments.

Additionally, third-party sexual harassment must be addressed, with sexual harassment risks included on risk registers and a zero-tolerance approach communicated to external parties. Ensuring that all employees and third parties understand there is a non-retaliation policy will help build a culture of accountability and support.

Dealing with sexual harassment claims

Employers should recognise that Employment Practices Liability (EPL) cover can help shield them from potential claims related to workplace harassment. When employees take leave due to mental health issues linked to harassment, this insurance can provide crucial support.

Employers should notify their insurer as early as possible, as employment tribunal cases can often trigger personal liability claims, which might otherwise escalate into costly litigation. In fact, a significant portion of mental health claims-three out of five-stem from employment tribunal cases related to the Equality Act.

Failing to address these claims promptly can lead to substantial payouts, as demonstrated by cases costing millions of pounds. Employers must also ensure they are mindful of the accused's well-being during investigations, as suspensions can also lead to mental health issues. Early recognition of potential personal injury claims is key, as these can significantly affect future insurance premiums.

What should a workplace sexual harassment policy include?

A company's sexual harassment policy should include:

Your position on harassment - this is a clear statement that the company will not tolerate harassment and will take disciplinary action against anyone who's found guilty of such behaviour towards a colleague. A statement such as this should serve its purpose to a certain degree as a deterrent.

Clear procedures for raising claims - firstly, employees must understand how they can raise concerns and the steps you'll take. Also, they should look to gather the sorts of evidence they believe harassment is taking place.

The degree of support individuals will receive if a claim is made - for example, the right to union representation, HR representation, or any independent support or counselling services that employees may have access to.

The possible consequences for the person accused of harassment - this covers what could happen if they're found guilty, but also for the person bringing the claim if this is indeed found to be malicious or not in good faith.

Remember that your employees need to be aware of your workplace harassment policy and understand what constitutes harassment to ensure compliance. If you do not, be prepared for severe financial and reputational consequences.

What is the Weinstein Effect?

In February 2020, after a lengthy trial, Hollywood movie producer Weinstein was handed a 23-year jail sentence for his predatory sexual behaviour.

Recently, Weinstein was sentenced to an additional 16 years behind bars after he was convicted of rape and three counts of rape and sexual assault against a European model and actress who testified anonymously. This effectively puts him in prison for the rest of his life.

The #MeToo campaign gained momentum and then gave women the support and encouragement to share their own experiences of sexual harassment.

The #MeToo movement led to 6 other convictions and five charges of prominent and influential figures in what is now known as the 'Weinstein Effect'.

Sexual harassment convictions since the #MeToo movement

1. Nxivm cult leader Keith Raniere - A Brooklyn federal court sentenced him to 120 years in prison after his conviction in June 2019 of sex trafficking, conspiracy, sexual exploitation of a child, racketeering, forced labour and possession of child pornography.

2. Actress Allison Mack - Pleaded guilty in April 2019 to racketeering and racketeering conspiracy charges for recruiting women to the sex cult, Nxivm.

3. Comedian Bill Cosby - In 2018, he was found guilty of 3 counts of aggravated assault for drugging and sexually assaulting a woman in 2004. His sentence was three to 10 years in state prison. He served more than 2 of these years before his sexual assault conviction was overturned by Pennsylvania's Supreme Court.

4. French photographer Jean-Claude Arnault - In 2018, he was put in jail for raping a woman in 2011.

5. USA Gymnastics national team doctor Larry Nassar - In 2018, he was found guilty on 3 counts of sexual assault and sentenced to 300 years. More than 330 girls and women claimed Nassar abused them.

6. Former Michigan State University dean William Strampel - Found guilty on 2 counts of "wilful neglect of duty" and 1 count of felony misconduct relating to the Nassar case (Strampel was Nassar's boss). He received a concurrent sentence of 1 year in August 2019.

#MeToo impact on sexual harassment reporting

According to the TUC, 7 in 10 (68%) people think the #MeToo movement has allowed people to be more open about sexual harassment. This number is highest amongst women (72%) and young people (78%).

However, the TUC also says that despite higher levels of awareness, cases of sexual harassment remain alarmingly high. Their research found that more than half (52%) of women - and nearly two-thirds (63%) of young women aged 18-24 years old - have experienced sexual harassment at work.

According to a recent poll conducted by STUC Women's Committee, 45% of women have experienced sexual harassment at work. Furthermore, 85% of women surveyed say that their report was not taken seriously or dealt with appropriately by their employer. As far as we have come, there is still a way to go.

Learn more about sexual harassment in the workplace

We've created a comprehensive Equality & Diversity roadmap to help you navigate the compliance landscape, supported by e-learning in our Essentials Library.

We also have 100+ free compliance training aids, including assessments, best practice guides, checklists, desk aids, eBooks, games, posters, training presentations and even e-learning modules!

Finally, the SkillcastConnect community provides a unique opportunity to network with other compliance professionals in a vendor-free environment, priority access to our free online learning portal and other exclusive benefits

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Sexual Harassment in the Workplace | Skillcast

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Sexual harassment in the workplace is an important topic that all employers and employees need to understand to address carefully and correctly.

# data[].attributes.headline
4/11/24 Stalking -Warning: This article contains themes that some may find distressing

# data[].attributes.subject
4/11/24 Stalking -Warning: This article contains themes that some may find distressing

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
‘I feel like I am living someone else’s life’: one in seven people a victim of stalking - Office for National Statistics

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Exploring the latest ONS data on stalking, in England and Wales, looking at the experiences behind the numbers through the voices of victims

# data[].attributes.headline
15/10/24 Microsoft gives deepfake porn victims a tool to scrub images from Bing search

# data[].attributes.subject
15/10/24 Microsoft gives deepfake porn victims a tool to scrub images from Bing search

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Domestic abuse experts to be embedded in 999 control rooms

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The plan is part of the government’s pledge to halve violence against women and girls within a decade.

# data[].attributes.headline
15/10/24 A safe space for teenagers worried about sexual behaviour

# data[].attributes.subject
15/10/24 A safe space for teenagers worried about sexual behaviour

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A safe space for teenagers worried about sexual behaviour. Shore has anonymous advice and support to help you or someone you know manage worrying thoughts and learn more about living safely both online and offline. All our services are anonymous, which means you don't have to say who you are.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
What sexual harassment is, what you can do if you're affected by it at work, and how employers should handle sexual harassment complaints.

# data[].attributes.headline
30/9/24 Updated guidance on sexual harassment ahead of new legislation

# data[].attributes.subject
30/9/24 Updated guidance on sexual harassment ahead of new legislation

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Updated guidance on sexual harassment ahead of new legislation coming into force | Peninsula UK

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Award-winning HR, employment law, and health & safety consultancy firm for employers. Find out how our experts free you from stress, admin, and risk.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How we’re addressing explicit fake content in Search

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Today we are announcing improvements and new policies to help people affected by explicit non-consensual fake content.

# data[].attributes.headline
17/7/24  Glamour Campaign calling for urgent action by the next Government relating to the laws on non-consensual intimate image abuse and deepfakes.

# data[].attributes.subject
17/7/24  Glamour Campaign calling for urgent action by the next Government relating to the laws on non-consensual intimate image abuse and deepfakes.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
"Women, who are disproportionately affected by this type of crime, deserve ownership of their images, and should have the right to use social media platforms without fear that those closest to them can abuse their images in whichever way they choose.

"Politicians and lawmakers should be working with victims and survivors of these crimes to ensure they meet the needs of those who are most affected by them."

Ellesha agrees, describing it as a "big step in the right direction", adding that... "it would mean that image-based abuse gets treated more seriously and not washed and watered down so much by the terminology in the laws at the moment."

"Survivors are having to take on billion-dollar tech platforms all on their own, without the law on their side."

Professor Clare McGlynn, campaign partner and a world-leading expert on image-based abuse, tells GLAMOUR: "Women are being systematically failed by the legal system. The criminal law is full of holes, and women's experiences are not taken seriously by the police. It is also extremely difficult to get material deleted or taken down from the internet, even after a criminal conviction."

"For too long, survivors of image-based abuse have been ignored, their experiences trivialised and dismissed. Women's rights to privacy and free speech are being systematically breached, with society as a whole suffering. Women deserve a holistic, comprehensive response to these devastating and life-shattering harms."

Rebecca Hitchen from EVAW adds, "The laws on image-based abuse are patchy and inconsistent, meaning the odds are stacked against victims when they report this abuse to the police.

"There is currently no standardised, legally enforceable way for victims and survivors to get abusive imagery taken down from the internet, or access any kind of compensation. Survivors are having to take on billion-dollar tech platforms all on their own, without the law on their side. This must change."

Are you paying attention, Sir Keir Starmer and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak? If so, we strongly urge you to adopt the Image-Based Abuse law into your party manifestos. Here's what we're calling for:
Introduce an Image-Based Abuse law
The Image-Based Abuse Law must - as a starting point - include the following commitments:
1. Strengthen criminal laws about creating, taking and sharing intimate images without consent (including sexually explicit deepfakes) This would make it illegal to create, take, share, threaten to share, or solicit any intimate image without consent. 2. Improve civil laws for survivors to take action against perpetrators and tech companies This means forcing platforms and perpetrators to take down and delete abusive content, seek damages and apply for protective orders against perpetrators. 3. Prevent image-based abuse through comprehensive relationships, sex and health education *Names and some details have been changed to protect victims and survivors' identities and safety. Revenge Porn Helpline provides advice, guidance and support to victims of intimate image-based abuse over the age of 18 who live in the UK. You can call them on 0345 6000 459. The Cyber Helpline provides free, expert help and advice to people targeted by online crime and harm in the UK and USA. This education must respond to young people's lived realities, particularly the way our lives - including our dating lives and the abuse we face - are increasingly experienced online. 4. Fund specialist services that provide support to victims and survivors of image-based abuse Proceeds from the 'tech tax' and fines must be used to sustainably fund vital services which provide expertise and support to survivors who often have nowhere else to turn. 5. Create an Online Abuse Commission to hold tech companies accountable for image-based abuse This regulator must monitor and enforce action against tech companies, including making sure illegal content stays taken down, blocking sites for non-compliance, enabling individuals to report platforms for poor practice, and providing an independent commissioner who would champion and advocate for victims and survivors of online abuse.
Elena Michael, campaign partner and director of Not Your Porn, notes, "The painful and infuriating truth is that it is within our grasp to make a comprehensive system of protections and preventions to fight image-based sexual abuse.

"This law is the first step to making this long overdue system a reality. No more excuses. No more putting the burden on survivors to protect themselves and circumvent illogical barriers to accessing justice. And, absolutely, no more facilitating preventable harm by government inaction.

"If the parties are serious about understanding the risks posed by image-based abuse and the need to tackle it, as they have said they do before the general election was called, then they will commit to enacting this law."

Deborah Joseph, GLAMOUR's European Editorial Director, further notes, "Earlier this year, GLAMOUR held a roundtable on digital consent and the threat of deepfaking to women - where we learned the harrowing reality of women's experience with image-based abuse.

"Hearing from the everyday people who have experienced this was heartbreaking, and it is terrifying to know that there is currently no current comprehensive legal framework in place to protect women against this crime. We want to see the next government wake up and take the threat of image-based abuse seriously, actioning meaningful change to protect women both in society and online."

A dedicated Image-Based Abuse law is not too much to ask for; in fact, it's just the beginning. The next government must stop failing women like Niamh, Ellesha, and Jodie and start prioritising image-based abuse as a national emergency - and we'll be holding them accountable every step of the way.

For more from Glamour UK's Lucy Morgan, follow her on Instagram @lucyalexxandra.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
We're calling on the next government to protect women and girls from image-based abuse

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
GLAMOUR is teaming up with the End Violence Against Women Coalition, Not Your Porn, and Professor Clare McGlynn to demand an Image-Based Abuse Act. Read more...

# data[].attributes.headline
17/7/24 Behavior's that constitute stalking

# data[].attributes.subject
17/7/24 Behavior's that constitute stalking

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon

# data[].attributes.headline
4/6/24 Google's new "Results about you" tool allows users to see how they appear in search results and request the removal of any personally identifiable information, such as phone numbers or home addresses, via the Google app

# data[].attributes.subject
4/6/24 Google's new "Results about you" tool allows users to see how they appear in search results and request the removal of any personally identifiable information, such as phone numbers or home addresses, via the Google app

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
When you've added your contact info in settings, we'll check to see if that info shows up in search results. New results about you will appear within "Results to review," where you can make removal requests.

You can also request to remove results that you see on Google Search, by selecting "Remove result" from the menu icon next to any result that includes your contact info.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
How to find and remove results with your contact info

# data[].attributes.headline
4/6/24 Vodafone Foundation domestic abuse platform Bright Sky

# data[].attributes.subject
4/6/24 Vodafone Foundation domestic abuse platform Bright Sky

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The Bright Sky domestic abuse mobile app, widget and website has now surpassed 1 million users.

Bright Sky gives support and offers advice to anyone concerned about domestic abuse.

Bright Sky was first launched in 2018, in partnership with Hestia, a UK crisis support charity, and Hope After Harm. It is now live in 13 countries across Europe, Africa, North America, and Oceania.

From physical abuse to controlling and coercive behaviour, abusive relationships take many forms. Domestic abuse affects millions of people around the world.

Survivors may not recognise the signs of domestic abuse. Or they may not know where they can get help.

Using mobile technology, Vodafone Foundation wanted to give everyone easier access to specialist support.

Leanne Wood, Chief HR Officer at Vodafone Group said: "One in three women experience domestic abuse globally. With a million users in 13 countries, the Bright Sky platform continues to help people find a safe pathway to information and essential services."

Bright Sky is free and easy to use. It gives domestic abuse survivors advice on spotting the signs and how to respond. And it can help find a safe route to support.

Anyone experiencing domestic abuse can use Bright Sky. This includes people worried about a friend, family member, or someone they know. It also offers information on issues like online safety, stalking and harassment.

Bright Sky users can answer a questionnaire to help identify types of abuse in a relationship. It uses mobile phone geolocation to help users find the nearest support services.

Bright Sky is available online and on iOS or Android mobile platforms.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Vodafone Foundation domestic abuse platform Bright Sky reaches 1 million users

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Bright Sky domestic abuse mobile app and website has now surpassed 1 million users. Find out more.

# data[].attributes.headline
4/6/24 Refuge's Tech Safety Newsletter May 2024

# data[].attributes.subject
4/6/24 Refuge's Tech Safety Newsletter May 2024

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Apples iOS 17.5 is expected to land on devices in May. It will come with a host of updates, including third-party tracking alerts. We've seen incidents in recent years of smart tracking devices deployed by perpetrators of abuse to stalk their victims. It's been a point of concern for the VAWG sector for some time now. Since then, Apple and Google have been working to create a system where, regardless of who manufactures your device, you'll get notified if a tracking device not linked to your accounts is following you. The iOS 17.5 update brings this functionality to compatible apple devices, meaning you should be alerted if a device is traveling with you... even if that device isn't an Apple product.

It's worth noting that if you have an older iPhone, you may not be getting the new iOS updates. If you think this might be you, check online with Apple support. If your device wont be getting new updates, you might want to consider if your current phone is still working for you. Without these updates you won't be getting vital security fixes, either.

Android users aren't left out in terms of updates. Google announced earlier this month that they're rolling out their updated 'find my device' application. The roll out will start in the US and Canada and we can expect a staggered worldwide roll out to follow. You'll be able to use other Nest compatible smart devices (if you have them) to locate lost or misplaced devices, and even located compatible offline devices (Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro).

Whilst the forgetful individuals among us might be glad for this update, survivors of technology-facilitated abuse should be cautious. We recognise that for women who are experiencing technology-facilitated abuse having a mobile device that can be found, even when offline, could pose an additional risk. If you're unsure if your accounts and devices are safe, or want to be able to signpost survivors to a space to check their online safety, you can find resources online at refugetechsafety.org

Government announces creation of sexually explicit 'deepfakes' will be made illegal

The Ministry of Justice announced on 16 April that a new law will be introduced to address the creation of intimate image 'deepfakes', which are digitally altered images or videos created by AI tools. Under the new offence, to be introduced via the Criminal Justice Bill, perpetrators who make sexually explicit 'deepfakes' without consent would face a criminal record and an unlimited fine.

Refuge welcomed this new offence as an important step forward in tackling AI-enabled harms to women and girls, and we pay tribute to the work of campaigners such as Professor Clare McGlynn in securing this change. The overwhelming majority of deepfakes found online are non-consensual pornography portraying women.However, we have concerns over how this new law will be policed and enforced. The offence will be based on the perpetrator's intention to cause alarm, humiliation or distress, which can often be hard to prove.

In response to the announcement, the largest deepfake sexual abuse websites blocked access to UK users, as did a nudification app. The government also recently criminalised the sharing of deepfake intimate images.

Cyberstalking

Stalkerware Beware- Intrusive, Invasive, and Insidious

Information provided by National Domestic Abuse Helpline Tech Lead

Stalkerware is the term used for tools that enable someone to covertly monitor someone else's private and personal life using their devices. This is generally used on mobile devices and can, despite common misbeliefs, be installed on iOS as well as Android systems.

There are many apps available and are often marketed as parental control or monitoring software. These tools are extremely intrusive with features that allow for a frightening amount of information to be monitored including location information, live listening to calls and capturing activity on messages and other communication apps.

Stalkerware is becoming easier to use and harder to detect.

Stalkerware is a global concern, and the use of these tools is ever increasing. At Refuge Stalkerware is a prevalent issue and a common concern for our survivors seeking support from the Technology Facilitated Abuse Team.

If you want to learn more about stalkerware you can listen to our podcast "in conversation with" Martjin Grooten and Eva Galperin, both members of the Coalition Against Stalkerware.

You can find further information on the Coalition Against Stalkerware here: https://stopstalkerware.org/

The Refuge Technology Facilitated Abuse Team can offer support to survivors experiencing concerns around their technology, including concerns of stalkerware. Support can be found by calling the National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247 from a safe and secure device where possible, or by visiting our Tech Safety Website.

Technology-facilitated Abuse and Economic Empowerment Strategy Launch Event
On Wednesday 1st May Refuge's Technology-facilitated Abuse and Economic Empowerment Team hosted colleagues and partner organisations at our head office to talk through the new strategy, and to get a better understanding of how we can continue to build networks and work collaboratively.
Emma Pickering, Head of Technology-Facilitated Abuse and Economic Empowerment spoke about the aims and objectives for the coming few years, and how we plan to achieve them.
The 5 key strategic priorities highlighted are:

Raising Awareness of Technology-facilitated Abuse and Economic Abuse,

Recognised as thought leaders in the sector,

Drive legislative and policy changes to improve responses for survivors,

Improve responses for survivors by increasing agency awareness,

Build partnerships to share and grow our expertise and expand our impact.

The group then split into smaller breakout sessions to gather feedback, share learning, and identify where we can build on working in partnership with others, to collaboratively tackle technology-facilitated abuse.

We'd like to thank everyone that attended for their input and engagement.
You can read more about the strategy here

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Refuge's Tech Safety Newsletter May 2024

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Calling all Smartphone users! Apples iOS 17.5 is expected to land on devices in May. It will come with a host of updates, including third-party tracking...

# data[].attributes.headline
4/6/24 Nottinghamshire Police is using a video streaming service to help domestic abuse victims get help more quickly

# data[].attributes.subject
4/6/24 Nottinghamshire Police is using a video streaming service to help domestic abuse victims get help more quickly

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Force streamlines domestic abuse response

On average, the force receives 75 calls a day relating to domestic abuse.

Using video call technology, a new team of officers based in the control room is now making contact with victims through secure video calls.

The streaming platform - called GoodSAM - ensures victims receive the same service as they would if an officer attended in-person, but with reduced delays, the force said.

It has been implemented by the new Remote Investigations Domestic Abuse (RIDA) team, which was launched last month.

Charlotte Cook, project manager in Nottinghamshire Police's corporate development team, said: "It's exactly the same as if a police officer was coming to you to take a statement, only it's done remotely using a mobile phone or laptop.

"The technology is very simple to use - the victim is sent a secure link via text or email, they need a device with a camera but they don't need to download any applications and it doesn't use any of their data.

"That said, if a victim would rather have a police officer come to them in person, we will of course ensure that happens."

She said the remote system presented "advantages for victims and police forces".

"It saves officer time, enabling us to get to victims of domestic abuse quicker. It also allows the victim to avoid having a police car parked outside their home," said Ms Cook.

"We're confident the key outcomes will be improved victim satisfaction and increased positive outcomes in domestic abuse cases."

The team currently consists of one sergeant and five constables. There are plans to eventually expand RIDA to three teams.

Sergeant Sophie Dickinson, who leads the team, said: "We can already see a positive difference that we're making in terms of victim satisfaction. We're able to reach a lot of victims who don't want, for one reason or another, the police going to their address and we're able to make an appointment with them on the GoodSAM call and still build a really good rapport with them.

"So far we've had really positive results. We're seeing the victim, taking the statement, doing the Public Protection Notices and doing all of the safeguarding. We then work with response [teams] where necessary to ensure the suspect is arrested and interviewed."

PC Matthew Sisson, who joined the RIDA team from the response team at Retford, added: "The victims I've spoken to have definitely been pleased with the service.

"Victim satisfaction is a really important part of what we're about and we've all had advanced training to ensure we're delivering a quality service. We're given the freedom to deliver that quality service in the time we need to do it properly."

Chief Inspector Amy Styles-Jones said she was confident the RIDA team will prove a great success. "The team have settled really well into a new way of working and we're seeing them make a positive impact, to victims of domestic abuse and to our front line teams by reducing some of the incidents they need to attend," she said.

"We take domestic abuse extremely seriously and we will do what we can, along with our partners to safeguard victims and survivors and robustly deal with perpetrators."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Police Professional | Force streamlines domestic abuse response

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Force streamlines domestic abuse response On average, the force receives 75 calls a day relating to domestic abuse. Using video call technology, a new team of officers based in the control room is now making contact with victims through secure video calls.

# data[].attributes.headline
20/5/24 Online advice page for Sextortion

# data[].attributes.subject
20/5/24 Online advice page for Sextortion

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Take Action

If an incident has happened, you can direct towards online tools such as Report Remove or Take It Down. Both services allow you to report the images and videos directly, and Report Remove also allows you to report a URL (web address) when this imagery has been uploaded to a website. A digital fingerprint - known as a hash - will be created of the images and videos. These hashes are then distributed across participating platforms to prevent the images and videos from being shared. In addition, if you know that the images have been shared across specific platforms, these should also be reported through in-app reporting tools. All Report Remove reports go directly to the Internet Watch Foundation, which is the UK body responsible for assessing and removing this type of imagery. Because the content is classified as child sexual abuse material, do not report it to the Professionals Online Safety Helpline

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
If an incident has happened, you can direct towards online tools such as Report Remove or Take It Down. Both services allow you to report the images and videos directly, and Report Remove also allows you to report a URL (web address) when this imagery has been uploaded to a website.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The latest findings reveal that nearly 19,000 cases were recorded across the year, with sextortion remaining the predominant concern reported to the Revenge Porn Helpline, making up 34% of all cases. The data reveals that overall, there was a 54% increase in sextortion cases compared to 2022, highlighting a concerning pattern that has been seen since 2021.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The Revenge Porn Helpline Reveals 106% Increase in Reports - UK Safer Internet Centre

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Revenge Porn Helpline has released new data about how the service was used in 2023.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
There are several reasons why a company the size of McDonald's must adhere to higher standards than small businesses when it comes to workplace issues such as sexual harassment, write Susan Thompson and Andrew Lloyd of law firm Simkins.
McDonald's was recently hit by adverse publicity regarding historic and wide-scale complaints of sexual harassment.

A former employee has publicly stated that a manager exposed himself to her while she was working at McDonald's in 2018. Unfortunately, this type of complaint appears to be far from unique. The Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union claimed that it has heard over 1,000 complaints of sexual harassment from McDonald's staff. It has further alleged that McDonald's has masked the extent of the problem and a "toxic" work culture through widespread use of non-disclosure agreements and confidentiality clauses in settlement agreements.

Vicarious liability for discrimination and harassment can be avoided if the employer can show that it took "all reasonable steps" to prevent their employees acting unlawfully"

Notably, and it is assumed as a consequence of this, McDonald's has now taken the unusual step of signing an agreement with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). The agreement reached with McDonald's is known as a "section 23 agreement" (after the relevant section in the Equality Act 2006). These agreements commit a company, organisation or individual to take meaningful action to prevent unlawful discrimination and harassment. These can be enforced by the EHRC in court if the signatory fails to deliver.

Similar agreements have previously been reached with Sainsbury's and Highways England. Under its section 23 agreement, McDonald's has promised to take steps to ensure a "zero-tolerance" approach to sexual harassment and invest in training across the business.

The key aim of the section 23 agreement is to ensure McDonald's takes action to prevent all forms of discrimination, although the focus is clearly on sexual harassment. While one hopes that McDonald's genuinely wants to improve the workplace culture that has led to such claims being brought, it will also be concerned about the possibility of employment tribunal claims.

Under the principle of vicarious liability, an employer can be legally responsible for the acts of its employees. This includes paying compensation when one employee unlawfully discriminates against or harasses another.

When an employee brings a discrimination or harassment claim under the Equality Act 2010, it can bring it against the employer, the individual responsible, or both.

However, in most cases, the employee will focus on the claim against the employer. This is because employees will find it easier to recover any compensation from the employer, who is likely to have deeper pockets than the individual.

Vicarious liability for discrimination and harassment can be avoided if the employer can show that it took "all reasonable steps" to prevent their employees acting unlawfully (see 109(4) of the Equality Act 2010).

Policies in the staff handbook are not enough

This "section 109 defence" is rarely used in practice, and rarely successful. An employer must have robust, regularly updated, and genuinely enforced anti-discrimination and harassment policies. This must be supported by training employees about the same. Having a few policies in the staff handbook or directing staff to the internet is not enough.

Furthermore, any training must be regular. In the case of Allay (UK) Ltd v Gehlen, an Indian employee faced numerous racist comments. The employer tried to plead a section 109 defence on the basis that it had provided equality and diversity training to all of its employees. The employment appeal tribunal found that the employer's training was "stale", as it was over a year old and their section 109 defence consequently failed.

When considering a section 109 defence, the tribunal will adopt a two-stage process:

Firstly, the tribunal will identify whether the employer took any steps at all to prevent the employee from doing the act or acts complained (ie, did it provide training, were there policies in place and did it respond quickly to complaints?)

Secondly, having examined what steps were taken, the tribunal will consider whether there were any further acts that the employer could have taken which were reasonably practicable.

When looking at what is "reasonably practicable", the tribunal will consider the resources of an employer. A small shop with only a few employees will be treated far more leniently than a global brand like McDonald's. A company with such significant resources will be expected to have gone above and beyond to prevent harassment.

The standard McDonald's must aspire to

The fact that there is a high bar does not mean that large organisations cannot succeed. In 2005, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) succeeded in using an equivalent of a section 109 defence (under previous legislation consolidated by the Equality Act 2010). The employment appeal tribunal considered that the MoD's policy was a "model of its kind". Furthermore, the MoD acted immediately when the policy was breached and when complaints were received. Numerous witnesses testified that the policy was widely communicated and enforced. This is the kind of standard that McDonald's needs to aspire to, and will almost certainly be what is set out in the relevant section 23 agreement.

Ultimately, section 109 aims to strike a fair balance. An employer does not have absolute control over the actions of its employees. It would clearly be unfair for an employer to take responsibility for every action of deliberate wrongdoing. However, an employer has a lot of control over the company culture it creates. An employer (and senior management of the same) can seek to create an atmosphere where wrongdoing is overlooked, or it can choose to take real action. Section 109 sets a high bar for employers, but it is one that is appropriate. Tackling discrimination is not easy and it requires more than an up-to-date policy in a handbook.

It is right that genuinely conscientious employers are protected, but it is also right that those employers must show that they have taken all reasonable steps to prevent harassment happening in the workplace and that they are working towards real change.

Latest HR job opportunities on Personnel Today

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
McDonald's sexual harassment: with size comes responsibility

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
There are several reasons why a company the size of McDonald's must adhere to higher standards than small businesses when it comes to workplace issues such as sexual harassment, write Susan Thompson and Andrew Lloyd of law firm Simkins. McDonald's was recently hit by adverse publicity regarding historic and wide-scale complaints of sexual harassment.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
First convicted cyber-flasher jailed under new law - BBC News

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Nicholas Hawkes sent unsolicited photos of his genitals to a 15-year-old girl and a woman.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
How did Can I Tell You a Secret's stalker get away with it for so long? Spoilers.

Warning: contains spoilers for all three episodes.
The definition of stalking in the UK is repeated behaviour that makes a person feel scared, distressed or threatened and only needs to happen two or more times to qualify. Despite those seemingly straightforward parameters, the charge, prosecution and conviction rates for stalking in the UK are still alarmingly low. It is even harder to achieve justice when it comes to the crime of cyber stalking.

Can I Tell You A Secret? has just dropped on Netflix, and details the prolonged and prolific cyber stalking and harassment of several women for over a decade by Matthew Hardy. The documentary focuses primarily on three of Hardy's last victims; women he picked at random who had no connection to him at all. Abby, Lia and Zoe talk about how Hardy first interacted with them on social media posing as another woman so that their guards would be down. The first messages seemed innocent enough, but soon escalated into lies, threats and intimidation. Despite all three women being unsettled by the mysterious messages, none of them called the police initially. All of them seemed to instinctively know that without gathering proof themselves, there was little chance of the police taking them seriously.

Zoe, a model and avid traveller, went through Instagram Likes with painstaking detail to find the account that was messaging people she knew with a campaign of harassment. When she finally went to the police, they told her that since there had been no rape and no murder, there was nothing they could do. Zoe realised "[They're] not going to do anything until something like that happens."

Ad - content continues below

Abby, a fire breather and performer, lost her relationship and changed the way she lives as a result of the constant barrage of messages and feeling of being watched. She started living a reclusive life, even though "[she] used to go out and not be sacred at all."

Lia, a family-oriented social butterfly, has the help of parents and friends, picking her up, dropping her off, making sure she is never alone; but with the stalking still ongoing, nothing made her feel safe. When she eventually went to the police, they told her they couldn't do anything because "nothing had happened to [her]."

"Nothing Had Happened"

It seems unfathomable that someone can come to the police with such a large volume of messages and screenshots of what has been sent to them, to their friends and to members of their family, and have the police say that nothing can be done. The authorities have access to phone tapping, criminal records and location information, but without the motivation of a more serious crime, are reluctant to use these resources.

In the documentary, Abby recalled one occasion where she contacted the police asking for an officer to come and see her, and was told that someone would be with her in 20 minutes. Instead, after an hour, she received a phone call telling her they didn't believe she was in immediate danger and perhaps it was best they didn't come. Abby felt embarrassed by their tone which implied she was being 'silly' and agreed. After that, the police didn't follow up, investigate, or check on Abby again.

It's no secret that certain crimes seem to need a more substantial collection of physical evidence to be prosecuted; it is also no secret that these crimes are often ones that mostly target women. It is not uncommon for abuse, violence, rape and murder to begin with stalking and harassment, but as Zoe was told, until one of those things happens, there is very little the police are willing to do. When you add the ever-expanding capabilities of the internet and social media, where people can hide their location, remain faceless and emotionally abuse from a distance, a police force and justice system that is far behind the advancement of technology is even less motivated to start the hard work of pin pointing a perpetrator.

For the victim, that means weeks, months and in the case of Hardy's harassment, years, of waiting for the worst to happen. It means the inability to live a normal life or trust those around you. Some of the victims even started sleeping with weapons nearby, just in case. When someone seems to know the intimate details of where you work, who your family members are, what you're wearing, how you speak etc... it's hard not to look at everyone with suspicion.

Ad - content continues below

Matthew Hardy's Cyber-Stalking History

Hardy's unsettling behaviour started when he was just a teenager and would use Facebook to message and torment his female schoolmates. They quickly figured out it was their strange, loner classmate sending the messages, but even though Hardy was identified immediately, it didn't stop him from disrupting the girls' lives by messaging their families and employers. 14 years later, when Hardy started stalking Lia, Abby and Zoe, he seemed just as unperturbed by being identified.

Zoe and Abby kept digging through messages and profiles until they came to the name Matthew Hardy. They Googled him and found a Northwich Guardian article about his prior conviction for cyber stalking and Facebook hacking. Lia, who at the time was working for a solicitor, built an evidence folder in the same way she would create a court bundle. Sabrina, a friend of Hardy's aunt and one of his earlier victims, started calling Hardy when she figured out it was him. She got him talking and recorded the conversations. A friend of hers also captured the moment Hardy slipped up and accidently posted a recording of his face on Instagram Stories from one of the fake accounts he used to terrorise women. But even with mounting evidence, a previous conviction and restraining order, and being questioned by the police, Hardy wasn't deterred, in fact he seemed spurred on.

For Abby, Lia and Zoe, their turmoil looked to be indefinite, until they finally got an unexpected call from PC Kevin Anderson, the first officer they came into contact with who took these crimes seriously, something that could be argued should be the bare minimum. Although PC Anderson does exemplary work and was determined to help these women, even he admits that without their screenshots, recordings and documented evidence, he would have never been able to push for an arrest and certainly could not have expected a conviction. These women essentially investigated their own cases and ensured their own justice.

They Did Everything Right

While it's hard not to be impressed with the strength and resourcefulness of these women, there's also the frustration of knowing that they should not have had to do it themselves. It is impossible to deny that dealing with the sheer size of the Internet and what it means for crimes like this is daunting, but as these crimes are on the rise and the safety of people, especially women, are more at risk, it follows that there should be a more concerted effort by the police and our justice systems to be and remain up to date.

The events detailed in Can I Tell You A Secret? are not necessarily unique. The messages Hardy sent weren't more salacious or violent than ones that have been sent before or since. Luckily, it seems that he had no interest in hurting the women, and beyond making their lives miserable from afar, he apparently had no interest in physically attacking them or making his presence known in a more tangible way. Not every victim of stalking is as lucky.

What sets Hardy apart is the amount of detail, time and effort that went into these extremely well-co-ordinated campaigns. There were so many messages that at times his victims thought it had to be more than one person, possibly even a team of people. Because of this, and most likely because of Hardy's earlier blanket denials of his crimes before eventually confessing and pleading guilty, he was handed the longest sentence that has ever been given for cyberstalking. It is an all-too-rare example of victims being able to feel the relief of justice and rebuild their sense of safety and personhood.

Ad - content continues below

Abby, Lia and Zoe have relationships that were broken by what Hardy did that can never be repaired. Even though they did everything they were supposed to do, documented, reported, talked to family, friends... The way they carry themselves and respond to certain things have been forever changed. They faced Hardy in court, they told their stories to The Guardian and now they have shared them with an even wider audience. Hopefully their example will help women who find themselves in similar circumstances, but a greater hope is that the police will take this as a call to action so that fewer women find themselves in these circumstances at all, let alone for several years.

Isaura Barbé-Brown is a Hackney born and based actress. She studied at AADA in New York and BADA in Oxford. She writes for The Final Girls|Bloody...

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Netflix's Terrifying Cyberstalking Doc Highlights a Baffling Reality

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
How did Can I Tell You a Secret's stalker get away with it for so long? Spoilers.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
Prostart - Training You Today For Tomorrow

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Consent is defined as an agreement made by someone with the freedom and ability to decide something. Under the law, it is the person seeking consent who is responsible for ensuring that these conditions are met. Consent has to be given freely and no one can be made to consent to something. It's not consent if someone does something because they feel they have to. You can also never assume that someone is giving consent - you have to be sure.

Consent is important in a relationship because consent means that you have given permission, and that someone has given you permission to engage in any intimate activity for sex. ... Consent is an essential part of healthy relationships and it's really important to know what it is and the many ways to spot it.

Someone doesn't have the freedom and capacity to agree to sexual activity by choice if:

They are asleep or unconscious

They are incapacitated from drink or drugs, or have been 'spiked'

They are pressured, manipulated, tricked or scared into saying 'yes'

The other person is using physical force against them

Please bear in mind, however, these are just a few examples of what consent doesn't look like.
If you don't understand consent, or what actions may be considered non-consensual, watch the Thames Valley Police explain consent in this short video.
Withdrawing consent
You have the right to withdraw consent at any time and, when you do, you partner(s) should respect your wishes immediately and without question. Just because you have consented to one thing doesn't mean you have consented to something else, and it's completely OK to say no or stop at any point if you don't want to continue.

You don't have to explain to your partner(s) why you have withdrawn consent if you don't want to. And you can give consent again if your feelings change and you want to continue.

The Home Office 'Disrespect Nobody' campaign provides more information advice and guidance. These pages have now been archived.
[ARCHIVED CONTENT] Disrespect NoBody | Find out about healthy relationships, relationship abuse, consent and more. (nationalarchives.gov.uk) [ARCHIVED CONTENT] Disrespect NoBody | Consent | Advice on consent (nationalarchives.gov.uk)
Further information on recognising Consent
How to give and get consent - Brook
If you need help you can speak to one of the Designated Safeguarding Leads at Prostart or further information on getting help can be found here:

Prostart Designated Safeguarding Leads:-

Dawn Bridgett

Matthew Vaughan

Alternatively you can speak to your Learning & Development Coach or Tutor

Further information advice and guidance can be found on the Hot Topics Padlet Hot Topic - Safeguarding: Sexual Abuse, Harms and Harassment (padlet.com)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
What does having consent mean and why is it important? - Prostart

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
What does having consent mean and why is it important? Withdrawing consent You have the right to withdraw consent at any time and, when you do, you partner(s) should respect your wishes immediately and without question.

# data[].attributes.headline
Reporting Sexual Harassment and Behaviour

# data[].attributes.subject
Reporting Sexual Harassment and Behaviour

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
Prostart - Training You Today For Tomorrow

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Reporting Sexual Harassment and Behaviour - Prostart

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Reporting Sexual Harassment and Behaviour All reports of sexual harassment can be reported to Prostart Training. As your Training Provider we have a duty of care towards all of our apprentices and learners.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The offence of coercive control recognises that domestic abuse can take several forms and is not strictly limited to physical violence.

A number of things that were until fairly recently not covered are now outlawed.

In England and Wales, the following 10 acts towards a partner are illegal.

1. Sharing sexually explicit images of a partner New laws surrounding 'revenge porn' make it illegal for someone to share intimate photographs of you with anyone, online or otherwise.

2. Restricting access to finances Even if they earn more money than you, the law says your partner cannot stop you from accessing cash within the relationship.

3. Putting you down Persistent name-calling, mocking and other forms of insulting behaviour are now illegal.

4. Stopping a partner from seeing friends or family Monitoring or blocking of calls and emails, telling you where you can or cannot go, and preventing you from seeing your friends or relatives is now against the law. IF your partner isolates you from the people you love, they could face the wrath of the law.

5. Scaring you Your partner might not physically assault you, but if they are doing enough to frighten you, they are committing an offence. That could include using their size to intimidate or breaking things around the house.

6. Threatening to reveal private things about you Repeated threats to reveal personal and private information is now classed as a form of abuse. It could include revealling details about health or sexual orientation.

7. Putting tracking devices on your phone It is illegal under the new legislation to "monitor a person using online communication tools or spyware".

8. Being extremely jealous Persistent accusation of cheating and "extreme jealousy, including possessiveness and ridiculous accusations of cheating" all come under the new legislation.

9. Forcing you to obey their rules The CPS says if a partner is forced to abide by stringent rules set by a partner, it could mean they are committing a crime.

10. Controlling what you wear Your partner taking control over any part of your life is highlighted in the new legislation, including restricting who you see and where you go. Controlling what you wear or how you look could also now be grounds for prosecution under the changes.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
It is illegal for your partner to do these 10 things in a relationship

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Psychological abuse within a relationship is illegal.

# data[].attributes.headline
A safe space for teenagers worried about harmful sexual behaviour

# data[].attributes.subject
A safe space for teenagers worried about harmful sexual behaviour

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A safe space for teenagers worried about sexual behaviour. Shore has anonymous advice and support to help you or someone you know manage worrying thoughts and learn more about living safely both online and offline. All our services are anonymous, which means you don't have to say who you are.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Domestic abusers will face tags and tougher management under new measures to protect women and girls.

The new proposals go further than ever before in protecting women and girls from harassment, aggression and violence, and focus on stopping domestic abuse before it takes place.

The law will be changed so that the most dangerous domestic abusers will be watched more closely. For the first time, controlling or coercive behaviour will be put on a par with physical violence, which will mean offenders sentenced to a year or more imprisonment or a suspended sentence will automatically be actively managed by the police, prison and probation services under multi-agency public protection arrangements. A range of agencies will have a legal duty to cooperate to manage the risks posed by these dangerous offenders. This will make it easier to deliver a joined-up approach to protect the public.

While we are pursuing this legislation, police and the probation service will start work immediately to ensure that from now offenders sentenced to a year or more for controlling and coercive behaviour are recorded on the violent and sex offender register, so that they don't fall through the cracks.

In addition, abusers could be fitted with a tag, prevented from going within a certain distance of a victim's home, and made to attend a behaviour change programme, as part of a trial of domestic abuse protection notices and domestic abuse protection orders in three areas in the UK.

Also from today (20 February), those at risk of, or suffering from, domestic abuse will be able to receive emergency help from one of 18 jobcentres and jobs and benefit offices across the UK, and a new postcode checker will tell them their nearest location to access the service.

The Ask for ANI (Action Needed Immediately) scheme is already in operation in over 5,000 pharmacies across the UK in over 88 cities, towns and villages. It is delivered in partnership with Hestia's Safe Spaces. Anyone who is suffering from or fearful of domestic abuse can ask for ANI, and they will be guided to a safe and private space and offered support to call the police or specialist domestic abuse services.

Since the scheme launched in 2021, the emergency support has been accessed on average once a week.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:

No woman or girl should ever have to feel unsafe in her home or community and I am determined to stamp out these appalling crimes.

The Ask for Ani scheme provides a lifeline for anyone suffering from domestic abuse and we will continue to expand the scheme so that more people can access it, including piloting this service in the first jobcentres.

As well as extra support for victims, we're making it a priority for the police to tackle violence against women and girls and toughening up the way offenders are managed - preventing more of these crimes from happening in the first place, and bringing more perpetrators to justice.

Government will also require police forces to treat violence against women and girls as a national threat, as set out in a new strategic policing requirement published today. This means tackling these crimes will be as important as tackling threats like terrorism, serious and organised crime and child sexual abuse.

On top of this, the National Police Chiefs' Council is writing to every force in England and Wales to reiterate the expectation that forces must proactively identify the most dangerous domestic abusers in their area to prevent them from committing further crimes. To support this, the Home Office will help develop a new risk assessment tool so that police forces can quickly identify domestic abusers most likely to commit the greatest harm - even where they have no conviction - and stop them in their tracks.

Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, said:

Domestic abuse is a despicable crime that leads to people's closest relationships becoming a frightening existence of torment, pain, fear, and anxiety.

It is completely unacceptable and as Home Secretary I will do everything in my power to stop it.

The wide-ranging measures announced today will mean the most dangerous offenders will be watched more closely and added to the violent and sex offender register.

Also, police forces in England and Wales will now have to treat violence against women and girls as a national threat and more victims will be protected from harm.

The full set of measures being set out today include:

1. Tougher management of the most dangerous offenders: The government will change the law to ensure that offenders with a conviction of controlling or coercive behaviour who are sentenced to 12 months or more imprisonment or a suspended sentence are automatically eligible to be managed by the police, prison and probation services under multi-agency public protection arrangements. This means agencies will have a legal duty to cooperate to manage the risks posed by these dangerous domestic abuse offenders. These offenders will also be added to the violent and sex offender register going forward.

2. Piloting new civil orders: The Home Office and Ministry of Justice will pilot the new domestic abuse protection notices and orders in Gwent, Greater Manchester, and three London boroughs (Croydon, Bromley and Sutton), with the Metropolitan Police, British Transport Police, and other criminal justice partners. The new cross-jurisdictional order will provide flexible, longer-term protection for victims. The court will be able to impose requirements such as attendance on perpetrator behaviour change programmes, alongside electronic monitoring and making it mandatory for offenders to notify the police of name and address changes. Breach of any requirement will be a criminal offence.

3. Ask for ANI codeword scheme pilot: Building on the success of the scheme in pharmacies across the UK, domestic abuse victims will be able to 'Ask for ANI' in 18 jobcentre and jobs and benefit offices through a pilot launching today across the UK, and receive support from a trained staff member who will guide them to a safe and private space, where they can help a victim call the police or support services. A new postcode checker has also been launched today to enable anyone to find their nearest participating pharmacy, jobcentre or jobs and benefits office.

4. Adding violence against women and girls to the strategic policing requirement: The Home Secretary has published the new strategic policing requirement, which for the first time categorises violence against women and girls as a national threat and sets clear expectations about how this threat should be tackled by police forces.

5. Identifying dangerous perpetrators before conviction: The government will develop a new digital tool which will use police data to identify individuals who are high risk and likely to commit domestic abuse offences. The tool will also include perpetrators without conviction - in the year ending March 2022 there were 910,980 domestic abuse-related crimes recorded by the police in England and Wales, compared to 40,647 convictions.

6. Strengthening Clare's Law: We have published new guidance which reduces the timeframes for police to disclose information about an individual's violent or abusive behaviour, through the scheme known as Clare's Law, meaning it will be quicker to access information on a partner's or ex-partner's previous abusive or violent offending. The guidance will be placed on a statutory footing next month (March 2023).

7. Funding specialist victim support programmes: Up to £8.4 million will be allocated over two years to fund projects run by specialist organisations to provide tailored, trauma-informed support from 1 April 2023.

8. Investing in perpetrator interventions: police and crime commissioners (PCCs) will be granted up to £36 million over the next two years for tackling perpetrators through interventions which directly address abusers' behaviour, bringing total funding for these projects to more than £70 million since 2020.

In April 2021, the landmark Domestic Abuse Act updated the definition of domestic abuse, recognising it refers to a range of abusive behaviour - physical, sexual, violent or threatening, psychological, emotional and coercive or controlling acts are now recognised as criminal abuse.

For the first time, the Act recognised children as victims, and economic abuse as a form of domestic abuse. It established a statutory duty on local authorities relating to the provision of support to victims and survivors and their children within safe accommodation which was supported by £125 million worth of funding, and created new offences of non-fatal strangulation and threats to disclose intimate images.

Tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG) remains one of the government's top priorities and we are doing everything possible to make our streets safer for women and girls. Through our tackling VAWG strategy, we are prioritising prevention, supporting survivors, and strengthening the pursuit of perpetrators.

This includes measures in the Online Safety Bill to strengthen the law around the sending and sharing of intimate images without consent, and committing to introduce a package of new offences when Parliamentary time allows that tackle the taking and sharing of these vile images - which will include downblousing.

The government is also supporting the Protection from Sex Based Harassment in Public Bill, which introduces harsher sentences if someone who deliberately harasses, alarms, or distresses someone in a public place does so because of the victim's sex, with the maximum sentence increasing from six months to two years.

Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice Dominic Raab said:

Domestic abuse is an abhorrent crime which can make people's lives a living hell and we will do whatever we can to bring these offenders to justice.

This new plan will crack down on those carrying out this abuse with tougher monitoring of offenders, including electronic tagging, while investing millions more in specialist support services for the most vulnerable.

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Mel Stride said:

As safe spaces with strong links to the wider community, DWP jobcentres are uniquely placed to help vulnerable people access help on a local or national level.

Ask for ANI provides victims with a discreet route to get urgent help and is an important part of the extensive support offer already in place nationally across our network.

National Police Chiefs' Council Lead for Domestic Abuse, Assistant Commissioner Louisa Rolfe, said:

Policing is committed to protecting victims of domestic abuse and bringing perpetrators to justice. We welcome the raft of measures aimed at tackling domestic abuse in many forms.

Adding violence against women and girls to the strategic policing requirement, puts it on the same level of priority at terrorism and child abuse, where we believe it belongs. All forces are already prioritising VAWG and we welcome this prioritisation from the government.

Domestic abuse is a complex and entrenched societal problem and requires a multi-agency approach. Providing support for victims and their families and to introduce effective and sustainable solutions for perpetrators is vital.

We will work together with the Home Office to ensure the measures announced today can aid policing and the criminal justice system in their fight to tackle domestic abuse.

Caroline Bernard, Head of Influence at Respect, said:

Respect welcomes these additional measures to respond to perpetrators of violence against women and girls, including domestic abuse. They echo our calls to address the root cause, as well as the consequences of violence and abuse.

In particular, we are pleased to see that violence against women and girls will be added to the strategic policing requirement. Implemented effectively and resourced appropriately, this could have a major impact on the policing response to perpetrators of VAWG.

We look forward to working with government to ensure that these additional measures are delivered successfully alongside the tackling domestic abuse plan, so that survivors of domestic abuse can be safe and free from harm.

Today's announcements sit alongside wider work the government is doing to tackle domestic abuse. Since the publication of the tackling domestic abuse plan the government has:

doubled funding for the National Domestic Abuse Helpline, which sees on average 15,000 users every three months, and an uplift for all other national tackling VAWG helplines, to a combined total of over £2 million a year

launched a new communications campaign, 'Enough' to change societal attitudes towards domestic abuse and violence against women and girls, taking long term actions to prevent violence and encourage bystander intervention. The campaign includes online information at enough.campaign.gov.uk, television adverts, billboard signs, social media posts and radio advertisements highlighting the different actions we can all take to challenge perpetrators of abuse

committed over £79 million since 2020 for domestic abuse perpetrator interventions and research which includes up to £36 million over the next two years for interventions which is the first time we are providing multi-year funding to tackle perpetrators

introduced new measures in our Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act, which will give victims of domestic abuse longer to report offences to the police so that abusers cannot evade justice

as part of quadrupling funding for victim and witness support services by 2024/25, up from £41m in 2009/10, we have also committed increase the number of independent sexual and domestic abuse advisors by 300 to over 1,000 - a 43% increase over the next three years

Ask for ANI

DWP domestic abuse support already in offer across jobcentres:

DWP supports victims of domestic abuse to claim benefits through a range of measures. These include giving split payments when requested, relaxing benefit conditions, making referrals to local support, arranging special provisions for temporary accommodation, and signposting to expert third-party support;

Since 2017, DWP have delivered mandatory training to staff on how to identify domestic abuse, offer support to those experiencing abuse and check that the abuse has been reported to the courts, police or social services; and

All customers are asked if they have experienced or witnessed domestic abuse, or if they feel their claim will put them in danger. Staff will then signpost them to immediate help including Victim Support and the Forced Marriage Unit. If they are in immediate danger, jobcentre staff will phone the police.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Domestic abusers face crackdown in raft of new measures

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Domestic abusers will face tags and tougher management under new measures to protect women and girls. The new proposals go further than ever before in protecting women and girls from harassment, aggression and violence, and focus on stopping domestic abuse before it takes place.

# data[].attributes.headline
The Ultimate Guide to Any Kind of Break-up

# data[].attributes.subject
The Ultimate Guide to Any Kind of Break-up

# data[].attributes.body
Includes articles on

What’s the Difference Between Boundaries and Controlling Behaviour?

What To Do If Your Partner Won’t Let You Break-Up

For other harmful situations like stalking and image-based abuse, check out the articles below and make sure you understand your rights.

What To Do if You’re a Victim of Revenge Porn

Revenge Porn Victims Share Their Stories

How To Identify an Online Stalker

What To Do If You Think You’re Getting Stalked

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
clowns. Credit: Grafissimo

We can do better with our break-ups - but how do you figure out how to do it right? VICE spent 2023 talking to people all over Aotearoa, from exes to experts, collecting all of the advice and thought-provoking info we've found. It's a lot to process. Like, 94 articles worth of break-up intel to process. So to make things easier, we've put together a glossary of sorts. And where do you start when figuring out how to break-up better? Understanding what kind of break-up you're in for.

Unfortunately, there are Pushing out the words "it's over" can feel like the hardest part - until it's Email: Different Types of Break-up: From long-distance relationships fizzling out, to almost-endings that worked out in the long run, to the ugliest of blow-outs that leaves everyone involved feeling uneasy: there are so many ways a relationship can end. Of course, no two break-ups will ever be the same, but there are some common scenarios people find themselves in. Here are the articles that cover the basics: situations that almost everyone will either go through themselves or observe around them. Including being the one that calls it quits - and how to do it without being an asshole - and what it's like to break-up when you're still in love. We Spoke to People in Long Term Relationships About How They Ended Things How to Tell Your S/O to Give you Space Without Breaking Up What To Do When You Have to End a Relationship With Someone You Love Slow Burn Break-Ups Are Brutal. Here's How They Build Up. How To Call Off a Dating App 'Thing' If you're at university, or entering the post-highschool era, then it's likely relationships are gonna be pretty front of mind. From dreaded interactions with exes in halls to how student nightlife complicates dating, we have a look at some of the situations you might come up against. The VICE Guide To Ending a Relationship If you're concerned that your relationship may cross the line into harmful territory or are considering breaking-up with someone who has exhibited abusive behaviour, have a read of these two articles (you'll find a list of resources there too.) Harmful Break-Ups: also relationships that can do serious damage to the people involved. Harmful or intentionally abusive relationships can seriously affect people, in everything from their safety to future mental stability - and ending a relationship like this can be incredibly difficult. In worst-case scenarios, dangerous. For other harmful situations like stalking and image-based abuse, check out the articles below and make sure you understand your rights. What's the Difference Between Boundaries and Controlling Behaviour? What To Do if You're a Victim of Revenge Porn Revenge Porn Victims Share Their Stories It might be the smallest things, like not having someone to walk home with or suddenly having to learn how to cook for one person, or you may have lost your entire social circle and feel like you don't know how to be happy anymore. Maybe you're desperate to win them back or find yourself acting out. How To Identify an Online Stalker There's a lot for you to handle after your relationship grinds to a halt. What To Do If You Think You're Getting Stalked Social media etiquette is also something to consider when you're in a post-break-up haze. There's everything from blocking, revenge posting, drunk messaging and online oversharing to think about. The Aftermath: So if you want to avoid messy behaviour online, check the articles below. actually over and you're left dealing with the aftermath. Whether the relationship itself was good, bad or ugly, having someone yanked from your life is inevitably gonna leave you with your head scrambled. We've said it once and will say it again: every break-up is different. This means there are endless conversations to be had about our experiences when relationships end and how we process them. Below we've listed some of our favourite discussions on more complex break-up situations - whether it be how culture interacts with our ability to express ourselves, or understanding why we shouldn't take advice from influencers (we see the irony, but don't worry, these articles are all backed by real experts.) The VICE Guide to Social Media Use After a Break-Up Should You Get Rid of Online Evidence of Your Past Relationships? We Ask People: Is It OK To Block an Ex?
Shit you should think about: Don't underestimate how important it is just to talk about how you're doing, or even to hear someone else divulge their own shitty break-up stories. Break-ups are so often incredibly hard to process, especially the first time (and in some ways even harder when it's the 15th time). But that should never stop you from experiencing love, sex and everything else relationships have to offer. Breaking-up better doesn't mean you don't ever do it at all. But we hope it means you can minimise the hurt and the hardship. How Neurodivergent People Are Challenging Conventional Notions of Romance Is Breaking-Up Worse When You Live in a Small Town? Dealing With 'The Feelings' As a Young Brown Person How Queer People Came Out While in Cis/Het Relationships Why Revenge Fantasies are Normal After a Bad Break-Up What On Earth are Attachment Styles and How do you Navigate Them? TikTok Has Made Everyone Think They're a Relationship Expert Own the Feels is brought to you by #LoveBetter, a campaign funded by the Ministry for Social Development. LoveBetter Youthline support channels: lovebetter@youthline.co.nz Or rangatahi can text lovebetter to 234 https://check.areyouok.org.nz/ Rachel Barker is a writer / producer at VICE NZ in Aotearoa. You can find her @rachellydiab on IG and Letterboxd and see her film criticism on.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The Ultimate VICE Guide to Any Kind of Break-Up

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Let us point you in the direction of good advice, whatever the end of your relationship looks like.

# data[].attributes.headline
Documentary Another Body released 24th November 23

# data[].attributes.subject
Documentary Another Body released 24th November 23

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Germaine Greer famously said that women have no idea how much men hate them. Her maxim has a new relevance in the light of this terrifying (and enraging) documentary about the explosion of deepfake porn targeting women: famous women, of course, like Greta Thunberg and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez who dare to get above themselves, but also private women who are just trying to live their lives and have been hit with this revenge-hate tactic from fantasists, ex-boyfriends, would-be boyfriends, a range of misogynists and incels.

Deepfake porn is booming and making serious money for the porn sites who refuse to take these images down and are under no legal compunction to do so. Last year, the YouTuber who goes by the name Gibi ASMR spoke publicly about experiencing a loathsome attack. Another Body's heroine is, however, someone else: a woman studying engineering who first alerted Gibi ASMR to her situation because it had also been done to her by the very same man, her face attached with startling realism to porn images, and using her actual name. She herself appears to have been told about it by a male friend, who presumably had to ride out his own embarrassment at thereby admitting to his porn use. To protect her privacy, Another Body gives this woman the pseudonym "Taylor Klein" and actually uses a deepfake image of someone else's face in the interviews (I had assumed the film-makers would use an AI face, but an actual actor is credited).

With courage, toughness and some digital sleuthing, "Taylor" discovered overwhelming circumstantial evidence as to the identity of the culprit: incredibly, he was in her friend group at college. ("Taylor" is a gamer, incidentally, and there is a chilling suggestion that this man's deepfakes were revenge for losing to her, or that he had been encouraged by another loser.)

This is a powerful and important documentary, though I have one tiny qualification. Using a deepfake face for "Taylor" is a clever idea in some ways, and more interesting visually than just putting her face in shadow. But it also rather undermines the all-important integrity of reality, which is the film's moral platform. Perhaps the film could have centred on Gibi, the person happy to speak out publicly. Either way, it is a compelling work.

Another Body is released on 24 November in UK cinemas.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Another Body review - terrifying dive into the world of deepfake porn

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A female student bravely investigates who is behind deepfake images of her online in this compelling documentary

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Learn and heal from trauma in a private, supportive space. Our courses are written and checked by survivors, allies, mental health support workers and therapists from around the world. Healing from trauma can be isolating. We’re here for you.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Trainee wins £360,000 in employment tribunal victory following sexual harassment case - HRreview

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A trainee associated with the National Grid has emerged victorious in her legal battle, securing a substantial compensation amounting to nearly £360,000.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
It's a worrying reality that almost three in 10 women and people from marginalised genders have had a partner control or try to control their digital interactions.

That's according to a report released by social wellbeing platform Communia, which also revealed one in nine respondents said a partner had actually taken control of their digital interactions, while almost a fifth (18%) said they'd had a partner who tried.

And the issue seems to be more prevalent among younger generations - just over two in five (41%) respondents aged 16-24 have had a partner control or try to control their digital interactions, compared to 8% of respondents aged 55+.

Digital domestic abuse is more common than you'd think

It's not OK for partners to control your social media presence or interactions - in fact, this is a form of abuse. And it's on the rise as technology and our lives become increasingly intertwined.

Women's Aid suggests online platforms are being increasingly used to perpetrate domestic abuse. The charity also suggests it can happen over long periods and tends to escalate over time.

According to Communia, signs of digital domestic abuse can include asking for passwords to social media, telling you what you can and can't post, or isolating you from friends and family by blocking or restricting communications.

However, experts at Thames Valley Police suggest it can go even further than that and the examples of digital abuse they urge people to look out for are:

Using your social media accounts without your permission

Posting information about you online or by text/messenger

Creating a profile page without your permission

Sending you threatening messages

Sending threatening messages to other people whilst pretending to be you

Posting photos of you without your consent (also known as revenge porn )

Using spyware on your devices to track you

Taking away your control of smart home devices such as cameras, lights, thermostats

Controlling your bank accounts.

How to protect yourself from digital abuse

First, know that this is not your fault nor is it due to anything that you have done. You have a right to privacy both on and offline, regardless of what your partner tells you.

Thames Valley Police recommends taking the following steps to prevent digital abuse:

Use strong passwords.

Check social media privacy settings for all of your accounts. The National Cyber Security Centre has advice on how to check your settings on all of the major social media platforms.

Protect your phone, tablet, and PC by using a strong password, PIN, or both.

Turn off location settings.

If you don't want somebody knowing which websites you've visited, you can find how to hide this visit from your web history here.

Change your WiFi password from the default to a stronger password.

If you're worried about being locked out of your bank accounts or someone limiting access to your money, speak to someone at your bank. Some banks can flag an account that might be at risk.

Of course, if you feel safe and ready to, report the abuse that you've been subjected to. Citizens Advice has a wealth of information on who to contact for support and guidance, depending on who and where you are.

You can also go straight to the police by reporting online, by calling 101, or going directly to a police station.

Help and support:

If you, or someone you know, is in immediate danger, call 999 and ask for the police. If you are not in immediate danger, you can contact:

The Freephone 24 hour National Domestic Violence Helpline, run by Refuge: 0808 2000 247

In Scotland, contact Scotland's 24 hour Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline: 0800 027 1234

In Northern Ireland, contact the 24 hour Domestic & Sexual Violence Helpline: 0808 802 1414

In Wales, contact the 24 hour Life Fear Free Helpline on 0808 80 10 800.

National LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0800 999 5428

Men's Advice Line: 0808 801 0327

Respect helpline (for anyone worried about their own behaviour): 0808 802 0321

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
3 in 10 Women+ Have Experienced This Form Of Abuse - Here Are The Signs To Look Out For

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
It's not normal, or OK, if a partner does these things.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Sextortion is on the rise. Know the risks. | Thorn

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Offenders target young people for money through threats of blackmail aka “sextortion”. Here’s what you need to know about this emerging issue

# data[].attributes.headline
Connected technology: MPs call on Government to tackle growing problem of tech-enabled domestic abuse

# data[].attributes.subject
Connected technology: MPs call on Government to tackle growing problem of tech-enabled domestic abuse

# data[].attributes.headline
Amendments to Intimate Image Abuse Laws Announced

# data[].attributes.subject
Amendments to Intimate Image Abuse Laws Announced

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
By Beverley Thornton

Amendments to intimate image abuse laws announced on the 27th of June 2023 will remove the requirement for prosecutors to prove that perpetrators intended to cause distress when sharing intimate images without consent.

The latest amendments will come into effect alongside the Online Safety Bill, and may make it easier to charge, and convict, the sharing of intimate images without consent. Reforms are in place following the work of campaigners such as Georgia Harrison and Dame Maria Miller MP, alongside recommendations from the Law Commission.

How will this change the law?

The recently amended Online Safety Bill will make the sharing of intimate images without consent a base offence, with a maximum penalty of six months imprisonment. Cases where prosecutors can prove an intent to cause distress, embarrassment, alarm or for obtaining sexual gratification will also be given a sentence of up to two years in prison. Alongside this, any offender found guilty of sharing intimate images for sexual gratification could be placed on the sex offender register.

Since 2015, intimate image abuse, commonly known as revenge porn, has been criminalised. However, the Law Commission review, under recommendations from the Revenge Porn Helpline, outlined measures that could better support those affected by intimate image abuse. Previously, victims needed to prove an intent to cause humiliation or distress through the sharing of intimate images. Now, the updated legislation will help to give police and prosecutors the power to bring perpetrators to justice.

These latest changes will also criminalise the sharing of deepfake pornography, or manufactured intimate images, without the consent of those depicted. Deepfakes, an image where a person's face or body is changed to replace the likeness of one person with another, have been used to give the illusion that the person photographed is either nude, semi-nude, or taking part in a sexual act.

Sophie Mortimer, Revenge Porn Helpline Manager at SWGfL, said:

"The Law Commission made substantial recommendations last year for an overhaul of the law around the sharing of intimate images without consent, recognising that the law as it stood was not providing the justice necessary for victims of this abhorrent and devastating crime.

We are delighted that the government has committed to include these changes in the Online Safety Bill. Through the cases we manage at the Revenge Porn Helpline, we know that women and girls are disproportionately affected by this behaviour and greater protections for them, and effective prosecution of perpetrators, are a significant step towards better justice outcomes for all.

There is, however, more to do. Currently there is no right for victims to have their intimate content removed from the internet post-conviction, an injustice that is still not covered by law. We would hope that this is still actively addressed to better support those experiencing intimate image abuse."

Further laws around intimate image abuse have seen significant change in the past few years, with upskirting becoming a criminal offence in 2019, and threats to share intimate images being included under the Domestic Abuse Bill in 2021.

Contact the Revenge Porn Helpline

If you have been affected by intimate image abuse, you can contact the Revenge Porn Helpline on 0345 6000 459, or through email via help@revengepornhelpline.org.uk. The Helpline is open between 10:00 to 16:00, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays).

You can also access 24/7 advice and support through the Revenge Porn Helpline website and chatbot, located in the right-hand corner of the website.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Amendments to Intimate Image Abuse Laws Announced

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Learn more about amendments to intimate image abuse laws announced on the 27th of June 2023.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Let’s talk about sex, relationships and education : Skills and Education Group

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Moving forward together. Skills and education for all.

# data[].attributes.headline
Employers have been urged to limit alcohol at work parties to reduce the risk of inappropriate behaviour and harassment.

# data[].attributes.subject
Employers have been urged to limit alcohol at work parties to reduce the risk of inappropriate behaviour and harassment.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
According to the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), one in three managers has seen harassment or staff behaving inappropriately at work social events.

The poll of 1,000 managers, seen by the BBC, found that women (33%) were more likely than men (26%) to have witnessed improper conduct.

The poll suggested there was demand for more alcohol-free work events, especially among people aged 16-34. Overall, two in five (42%) respondents said work parties should be organised around activities that do not involve alcohol.

CMI chief executive Ann Francke told the BBC that managers have a responsibility to ensure safeguards against inappropriate behaviour.

"That might mean adding additional activities alongside alcohol, limiting the amount of drinks available per person or ensuring that people who are drinking too much are prevented from acting inappropriately towards others," she said.

The poll was conducted following allegations of harassment and sexual misconduct at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), including from one woman who alleged she was raped at a CBI boat party in 2019.

The CBI apologised to staff and members in an open letter last month, which stated that it did not put enough preventative measures in place to protect employees from harm.

Tesco chair John Allan has also been accused of inappropriate behaviour, including touching the bottom of a senior member of Tesco staff at the company's annual general meeting in 2022, as well as inappropriately touching a CBI staff member at its annual dinner in 2019, when he was CBI president. Allan has denied all but one of the allegations - making a comment about a CBI employee's appearance that she considered offensive.

Tesco told the Guardian that Allan's conduct has never been the subject of a complaint during his tenure as chair of Tesco.

Now, the CBI has appointed ethics consultancy Principia Advisory to help overhaul its operations and organisational culture. The CBI has suspended day-to-day operations pending an extraordinary general meeting on 6 June, at which it is expected to outline a new strategy.

Commenting on the appointment of the ethics advisors, Jim Moore, employee relations expert at HR consultants Hamilton Nash, said: "Bringing a team of ethics advisors into your workplace is a tacit admission that your business has morally lost its way. The CBI has suffered a systematic failure of awareness by management, and only by examining its HR processes and how they are implemented will it have any hope of surviving.

"Recent bullying allegations in Parliament point to the dangers of letting a toxic culture grow and fester in the workplace. Inappropriate banter is one of the most obvious symptoms of a toxic culture. Playful teasing between willing participants of equal power and status is fine, but an issue arises with nasty, edgy, sarcastic or discriminatory banter that 'punches down'.

"When management turns a blind eye to this - or worse, participates - it can create an acid bath of a corrosive work environment.

"Employers have a legal obligation to take reasonable steps to prevent staff being bullied or harassed. A toxic member of staff may be personally liable for their behaviour, but the employer may be vicariously liable too."

Latest HR job opportunities on Personnel Today

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Employers urged to limit alcohol at work parties

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
According to the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), one in three managers has seen harassment or staff behaving inappropriately at work social events. The poll of 1,000 managers, seen by the BBC, found that women (33%) were more likely than men (26%) to have witnessed improper conduct.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Women's Aid is a grassroots federation working together to provide life-saving services and build a future where domestic violence is not tolerated.

# data[].attributes.headline
Reality TV star Stephen Bear jailed for posting ‘revenge porn’ 

# data[].attributes.subject
Reality TV star Stephen Bear jailed for posting ‘revenge porn’ 

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Reality TV star Stephen Bear jailed for posting ‘revenge porn’ | The Crown Prosecution Service

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Domestic abusers who kill their partners or ex-partners will receive tougher sentences under government plans published today (17 March 2023).

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
On 27 February 2023 judgment was handed down in the case of FGX v Gaunt [2023] EWHC 419 (KB). General and special damages totalling £97,000 were awarded in a claim arising from the covert recording of naked images of the claimant and their subsequent publication on a pornographic website.

This case appears to be the first of its kind before the civil courts in England and Wales, after a woman sued her former partner for covertly recording her naked and publishing the images online.

The civil claim advanced against the defendant is for (i) intentionally exposing the claimant to a foreseeable risk of injury or severe distress which resulted in injury; (ii) infringement of the claimant's privacy; (iii) breach of the claimant's confidence.

It is notable that Thornton J began her judgment by criticising the now widely-used term 'revenge porn', since, in her view, the 'term conveys the impression that a victim somehow deserved what happened to them' and, for this reason, the description used in the judgment (and this article), is 'image-based abuse.'

In the ruling, which will no doubt assist lawyers and judges when assessing the level of damages in similar cases, the woman is awarded general damages of £60,000 and special damages of £37,041.61 for consequential financial losses, making a total award of £97,041.61.

The civil claim followed criminal proceedings which were brought after the claimant found a microscopic camera concealed in the bathroom of the home she lived in with the defendant, Stuart Gaunt. The woman, who is not named, also discovered that the defendant had uploaded images of her onto a pornographic website along with a photo of her face so she could be recognised. Gaunt was convicted of voyeurism and other sexual offences in 2020 and received a two-year suspended sentence. He was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register for 10 years.

Civil proceedings were issued and judgment in default was entered when the defendant failed to provide any defence. The hearing before Thornton J was to assess damages.

The case is interesting for privacy lawyers because in addition to a claim in privacy and confidence there was also a claim for intentionally exposing the claimant to a foreseeable risk of injury or severe distress which resulted in injury. When awarding damages in the civil proceedings, the Judge concluded that Gaunt's conduct caused the claimant to suffer from chronic PTSD, noting the gravity of the impact on her health in that she was 'one of a minority of cases in which PTSD becomes chronic over several years, causing an enduring personality change'.

The Judge recorded the devastating impact that the defendant's conduct had on the claimant's private life and lifestyle, not least in terms of her ability to trust and interact with other people in both a personal and work context. The determination that the continuing availability of the images online will contribute significantly to the claimant's ongoing distress and impede her recovery is perhaps of particular note, especially given the challenges of determining precisely the extent to which images have been dispersed online in cases such as this and the, at times, even greater challenge of ensuring their permanent removal once identified.

Considering the significance of this case, it is worthwhile analysing Thornton J's reasons for awarding such substantial damages, and how existing case law has been interpreted and applied in this context.
General damages
Whilst no case was identified to assist the Judge directly with the assessment of general damages, the Judge considered a number of authorities including MGN Limited v Representative Claimants [2015] EWCA Civ 1291, Reid v Price [2020] EWHC 594 (QB), Re TP (Kemp & Kemp, Vol 3 C2-002), ABC and WH v Willock [2015] EWHC 2687 (QB) and Bull v Desporte [2019] EWHC 1650 (QB) from which it is possible to draw the following guidance:

The appropriate compensation for damages in privacy will depend on various factors including most importantly the significance of the private information, the effect on the victim of its disclosure and the extent of publication.

The effect of repeated intrusions by publication can be cumulative (in the claimant's case, contributing to the development of chronic PTSD and an enduring personality change).

An award for psychiatric and psychological harm can be made if there is medical evidence of harm and parties in the public eye may have to endure a certain degree of public interest in their lives (in the claimant's case she had not sought to put herself into public life in any way).

When considering the quantum for the intentional infliction of injury, by way of sexual texting and the sending of indecent images, important factors to consider are: (i) the seriousness of the breach of trust and the vulnerability of the claimant, (ii) the psychological impact and (iii) the gravity of the misuse (including whether claimants have contributed to generating the images themselves with encouragement and whether there was any publication of the images).

Analogy can be drawn between the impact on the claimant in cases such as this and the impact on victims of sexual/physical assault for the purposes of awards made for psychiatric and psychological damage under Section C of Chapter 4 of the Judicial College Guidelines 2022; the highest damages awards are reserved for "severe" cases where there is evidence of permanent effects which prevent the injured person from working at all or at least from functioning at anything approaching the pre trauma level, whereas "moderate" cases (which the Judge determined the claimant's case to be) and less extensive damages apply where the claimant's prospects of recovery with professional help are better, but is still likely to suffer from significant disability for the foreseeable future.

Based on the above findings the Judge concluded that the general damages award should be £60,000. She determined that there were aggravating features of the defendant's conduct that would, in principle, attract an award for aggravated damages, namely the needless uploading of a photograph of her face onto the pornographic website and the evidence that indicates the defendant obtained payment for the images as well as his failure to participate in the proceedings. However, as the diagnosis of PTSD stemmed, at least in part, from these features no separate award of aggravated damages was made to avoid double-counting.
Special damages
The Judge divided the award of £37,041.61 for special damages between past losses and consequential financial losses.

The award for past losses included the cost of hotel accommodation after the claimant had to move out of the house she shared with the defendant, as well as cost of furniture and part of the cost of a wasted holiday. An award was also made for past treatments the woman received from a consultant psychiatrist and therapist, with a modest amount allocated for dentistry work (in the absence of expert evidence that the woman's teeth grinding was an effect of the psychiatric injury she had suffered). The Judge also considered it reasonable to apply interest at half the special account rate.

The awards for consequential financial losses included the cost estimated for the removal of images from the internet and costs of a further round of treatment specified in the medical report (including an annual pre-payment certificate for prescription medications for 2 years).
Conclusion
The judgment provides a valuable precedent for assessing damages in civil cases involving the intentional infliction of harm, misuse of private information and breach of confidence. The Judge's introduction of the term "image-based abuse" (to replace "revenge porn") as well as her application of guidelines used to determine the value of personal injury claims is likely to be a welcome development for victims of similar misconduct.
Andrew Willan is a partner and Nataly Tedone an associate at Payne Hicks Beach.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Case Law: FGX v Gaunt, Damages for "image-based abuse" - Andrew Willan and Nataly Tedone

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
On 27 February 2023 judgment was handed down in the case of FGX v Gaunt [2023] EWHC 419 (KB). General and special damages totalling £97,000 were awarded in a claim arising from the covert recording of naked images of the claimant and their subsequent publication on a pornographic website.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Skip to content Click to Exit website

Helping men escape
domestic abuse
Directory of Services
Helpline 01823 334 244
Menu
Directory of Services
Helpline 01823 334 244

Due to increasing levels of domestic abuse, we are receiving more calls than ever and our helpline solely relies on the public for funding (we receive no taxpayer funding or grants). If you are able to help us to help more men escape domestic abuse, please donate to us here. Thank you.

Male Victims of Domestic Abuse - Please call our helpline on
01823 334244 to speak to us confidentially

Our confidential helpline is available for male victims of domestic abuse and domestic violence across the UK as well as their friends, family, neighbours, work colleagues and employers.

We provide an information, support and signposting service to men suffering from domestic abuse from their current or former wife, partner (including same-sex partner) or husband. This can range from physical violence or object throwing to abuse such as constant bullying or insults.

We have also produced a directory of local services (called the Oak Book) which support male victims, so please visit this section to find the service in your community.

The helpline is a listening service which provides emotional support, practical information and signposting.

We receive calls from male victims of domestic abuse across all age ranges and professions:

From dustmen and doctors, to, bankers and builders

From men in their 20s to men in their 80s

From men in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

The helpline also welcomes calls from friends, family members, neighbours, colleagues and employers of male victims seeking information.

We also receive calls from support organisations, charities and statutory agencies such as local authorities and police forces.

Subscribe to our newsletter

"*" indicates required fields

By subscribing, you agree to receive communications, information and updates from the
ManKind Initiative (in line with our Privacy Notice and Terms of Usage).

© 2023 The ManKind Initiative - Registered Charity No. 1089547 and Company Registration No. 3869893, often referred to as "ManKind"

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Charity supporting male victims of domestic abuse through a helpline, directory of local services and general information on the website.

# data[].attributes.headline
TV Licence required Undercover Sexual Harassment - The Truth

# data[].attributes.subject
TV Licence required Undercover Sexual Harassment - The Truth

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Undercover: Sexual Harassment -The Truth

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Ellie Flynn goes undercover, exposing the harsh reality of sexual harassment against women and girls in Britain today, from 'dick pics' to being flashed, groped, spiked and raped

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The Signs of Gaslighting via Text - One Love Foundation

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Gaslighting is a manipulative tactic that can be used to undermine someone in their relationship.

# data[].attributes.headline
Information for Children and Young People

# data[].attributes.subject
Information for Children and Young People

# data[].attributes.body
Child Exploitation, Online Safety, Going Missing

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
What is it? What is child sexual exploitation? It’s not okay for someone to make or manipulate you into doing sexual things for the benefit or enjoyment of others. It is a form

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Grooming is when someone falsely gains your trust, in person or online, to persuade or trick you into doing something sexual with them.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
6 facts about sexual abuse

anyone can experience abuse, regardless of their sexuality or gender

sexual abuse is never your fault

someone can be sexually abused or assaulted by someone they know, in a relationship or by a stranger

sexual abuse can happen online or in person, and can involve anything sexual

you're not alone and there are people who can help you.

Lots of young people who've experienced sexual abuse can feel confused or unsure about what's happened. But even if you're not sure, you can still get support.

You can talk to Childline about anything that might be happened. You can tell our counsellors as much or as little as you want, they can help you to understand what's happened and get support if you're ready.

It's natural to be worried about what someone might say, or whether things could get worse.

Even if you're worried about talking to people in your life, you can still speak to us. At Childline, we'll always believe and support you. We won't tell you off and we'll help you to take your time.

Childline is a safe place to talk. Whenever you speak to us it's confidential and we won't tell other people what you've said.

We would only consider saying or doing something if:

you ask us to

we believe your life or someone else's life is in danger

you're being hurt by someone in a position of trust who is able to hurt other children like a teacher, religious leader, sports coach, police officer or doctor

you tell us that you're seriously hurting another person

you tell us about another child who's being hurt and is not able to tell someone or understand what is happening to them

we're told we have to by law, for example for a court case.

Not sure how much you are ready to share? That's okay, you can say as much or as little as you want to.

Try talking to a counsellor about your worries or read more about our confidentiality promise.

It's always important to tell someone what's happening.

If someone has sent you messages or you have other proof then it can help to show those to someone you trust, but you don't need evidence to get support.

If you're in danger or you need support straight away, you can always call 999.

A safety plan can help you know what to do if you feel unsafe at home or with someone else. It can help to make one if you're worried about being hurt or if you think something might go wrong. A safety plan includes all the information you'll need in an emergency.

Your plan could include:

who to call - this could be an adult you trust, Childline or the police

safe places you can stay if you have to leave home, and a plan of how to get there if you need to travel

things you'll need in an emergency, like medication or a phone charger

what to do if you're caring for someone else.

Get more advice and a template to make a safety plan.

Sexual abuse: how we can help

To be able to see YouTube videos, we have to ask you to accept Targeting Cookies within your Cookie Settings

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
If you've been sexually abused, or know somebody who has, we're here to help. On this page you'll find information about what you can do, who you can talk to and where to find the support you need.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
Prostart - Training You Today For Tomorrow

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Prostart has a zero-tolerance approach to any harmful sexual behaviour involving children/young people and acknowledges that it could be occurring in our community. Prostart is proactive in its approach to assessing prevalence, responding to incidents and challenging and changing behaviour. This policy applies to all governors, staff and apprentices/learners.

Schools and colleges have a statutory duty to safeguarding the children in their setting. We work together to foster an environment that creates healthy relationships for children and young people.

Our approach encourages healthy relationships and works to prevent harmful sexual behaviour and peer on peer abuse child on child abuse. We provide high quality education within our training to reduce the likelihood of the situations occurring.

We recognise that harmful sexual behaviour is harmful to both the young person affected by the behaviours and the young person who displayed the behaviour and provide ongoing support for all involved.

Our approach is to treat everything as a safeguarding incident in the first instance - we distinguish between behaviours that are exploratory and part of healthy age and ability appropriate development and those that may be harmful.

Prostart provide regular opportunities for staff to understand what harmful sexual behaviours might look like and what they should do in the event of a report. We do this by providing training and regular updates where possible.

We use our training sessions and progress reviews to help educate students about these issues as well as regularly remind and promote reporting routes within Prostart to ensure they know what to do should an incident occur.

POL04_Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy

POL09_Whistleblowing

HR 23 -Code of Conduct and Supervision of Staff Policy

POL04_Annex 4_Anti-bullying policy

POL16_Online safety

POL15 & 15aAcceptable Use Agreements

POL14 Social Media Policy

Our leaders and DSLs have ultimate responsibility in dealing with all incidents of harmful sexual behaviour, including online. It is the expectation that all incidents of harmful sexual behaviour/sexual violence and harassment are reported to Prostart in line with safeguarding and child protection procedures. We ensure that our DSLs and their deputies receive appropriate training so that they are confident in safeguarding processes. They know when it is necessary to escalate and have information on what national specialist support is available to support all children involved in harmful sexual behaviour and are confident as to how to access this support when required.

Our DSLs and their deputies have an in-depth working knowledge of key documentation, particularly KCSIE 2022. We ensure that they receive appropriate specialist training, commensurate with their role, and provide ongoing training for all staff.

It is the role of school leaders and DSLs to ensure that all staff and Governors/Senior Leadership Team receive training specific to harmful sexual behaviour and that it is included as part of induction.

It is the responsibility of all staff to have read and understood this policy and associated policies. All staff must report any incidents or suspected incidents of harmful sexual behaviour in line with Prostart policy and ensure they are informed of the outcome. It is expected that all staff will challenge any harmful sexual language or inappropriate behaviour. Staff have a duty to ensure that the Prostart environment is one which is safe, and which supports apprentices and learners to understand safe and healthy relationships and appropriate behaviour.

We ensure our governors/ senior leadership team receive appropriate training about what harmful sexual behaviour is, when it can pose a risk to children and how to keep children safe. Our governors/ senior leadership team receive regular training and updates, both in terms of what sexualised behaviour is, but also how to effectively support establishments and their stakeholders whilst holding provision to account.

As part of the Safeguarding report, our governors/ senior management team have the opportunity to monitor and evaluate the approach to harmful sexual behaviour to ensure it is adequate and effective. This includes evaluation of the curriculum and feedback. It is the responsibility of the governors/ senior management team to ensure that risks relating to these issues are identified, that a number of reporting routes are available, and that risks are effectively mitigated.

All apprentices and learners have the right to learn in a safe, healthy and respectful learning environment. Our apprentices and learners benefit from a broad and balanced curriculum. Our learners are encouraged to report any harmful sexual behaviour, even if they are not directly involved. All learners will be listened to if they make a disclosure and will be treated sensitively - whilst we cannot guarantee confidentiality, their requests will be considered when supporting them.

We work hard to engage parents and carers by:

Engagement in enrolment/ providing course information at the start

Sharing newsletters

Sharing information online e.g., website, social media

Our parents and carers are made aware of how and when to report any concerns to Prostart, that all incidents will be handled with care and sensitivity, and that it may sometimes be necessary to involve other agencies.

We recognise that, nationally, vulnerable learners may be more likely to be at risk of experiencing HSB. These include:

A young person with additional needs and disabilities

A young person living with domestic abuse

A young person who is at risk of/suffering significant harm

A young person who is at risk of/or has been exploited or at risk of exploited (CRE, CSE)

A care experienced child

A young person who goes missing or is missing education

A young person who identify as, or are perceived as, LGBTQI+ and/or any of the other protected characteristics

A young person displaying HSB have often experienced their own abuse and trauma. We work to ensure that any vulnerable learner is offered appropriate support, both within and outside school, sometimes via specialist agencies

Through the provision of good quality training and support, we strive to foster in our DSLs, and their deputies, a good understanding of HSB. This will form part of their safeguarding training. Supporting them in planning preventative education and measures, drafting and implementing an effective Safeguarding and child protection policy and incorporating the approach to sexual violence and sexual harassment into the whole Prostart approach to safeguarding. The training includes:

Whole staff training

Online Safeguarding training

Our training strategy supports staff to respond effectively to different types of harassment and sexual misconduct incidents. An assessment of the training needs of all staff will be undertaken regularly and will form the basis of our training strategy. This strategy will be reviewed and evaluated on a regular basis to ensure it is fit for purpose.

Training will be made available on an ongoing basis for all staff and students to raise awareness of harassment and sexual misconduct with the purpose of preventing incidents and encouraging reporting where they do occur.

Helpful links

CEOP is a law enforcement agency which aims to keep children and young people safe from sexual exploitation and abuse. Online sexual abuse can be reported on their website and a report made to one of their Child Protection Advisors.

provides a helpline for professionals at 0808 800 5000 and help@nspcc.org.uk. The helpline provides expert advice and support for school and college staff, and will be especially useful for the designated safeguarding lead (and their deputies).

Specialist Sexual Violence Sector Organisations

You can access support from specialist sexual violence sector organisations such as Rape Crisis or The Survivors Trust.

The Anti-Bullying Alliance has developed guidance for schools about Sexual and sexist bullying.

Provides an online safety helpline for professionals at 0344 381 4772 and mailto:helpline@saferinternet.org.uk. The helpline provides expert advice and support for school and college staff regarding online safety issues.

If the incident/report you are dealing with involves sexual images or videos that have been made and circulated online, the victim can be supported to get the images removed by the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF).

is a free tool that allows children to report nude or sexual images and/or videos of themselves that they think might have been shared online.

Advice for education settings working with children and young people on responding to reports of children sharing non-consensual nude and semi-nude images and/or videos (also known as sexting and youth produced sexual imagery).

from NCA-CEOP provides support for the children's workforce, parents and carers on staying safe online.

The Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse

has developed a range of helpful resources to identify and respond to child sexual abuse, including a guide for professionals supporting children following incidents of HSB.

is a UK-wide charity dedicated solely to preventing child sexual abuse. They work to prevent abuse from happening in the first place by working with all those affected including adult male and female abusers

Support people to recover from technology assisted sexual abuse in childhood. We do this directly by supporting individuals and their families, and indirectly through advocacy and education.

(NCATS) a national service that offers assessment, treatment, consultation and training for and about children and young people where there are concerns about harmful sexual behaviour

Provides useful research, advice and resources regarding online sexual harassment.

Prostart's educational approach seeks to develop knowledge and understanding of healthy, problematic or sexually harmful behaviours, and empowers young people to make healthy, informed decisions. Prostart's approach is delivered predominantly through the curriculum for Traineeship learners and through discussion at Progress Reviews with Apprentices.

Our approach is given the time it deserves and is authentic i.e., based on current issues nationally, locally and within our setting. It is shaped and evaluated by our apprentices and learners to ensure that it is dynamic, evolving and based on need. We do this through:

Staff consultation

Staff training

Resources are discussed and developed by the Equality and Diversity Team using a range of resources available online and through CPD activity.

In line with good practice, we have created child-friendly versions of key safeguarding policies, produced which are regularly evaluated. List those that are available below.

Safety Starts Here Position Statement

Our systems are well promoted in order to be easily understood and easily accessible for children and young people to confidently report abuse, knowing their concerns will be treated seriously. All reports will be dealt with swiftly and sensitively and outcomes shared where appropriate.

Prostart's Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy includes a list of established organisations we already have links to .

We also recognise that incidents will not always be reported directly to us, therefore we also train staff to recognise and spot signs of harmful sexual behaviour.

We recognise the importance of distinguishing between healthy, problematic and harmful sexual behaviour. Our response is always based on sound safeguarding principles and follows Prostart safeguarding processes. It is considered appropriate and puts the apprentice/learner at the centre of all decisions made.
See Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy
Prostart will always adopt a multi-agency approach and seek external support and guidance, in line with school policy, if deemed necessary. This may include:

CAMHS, Police etc See Annex 1 Sexual Violence and Harassment Flowchart

Prostart may deem it necessary to complete a harmful sexual behaviour risk assessment as part of the response to any reported incidents. The purpose of the risk assessment is the protect and support all those involved by identifying potential risk, both in and out of Prostart (e.g., public transport, after school clubs etc) and by clearly describing the strategies put in place to mitigate such risk.

The risk assessment will be completed following a meeting with all professionals working with the learner, as well as parents or carers. Where appropriate, the apprentices/learners involved will also be asked to contribute.

The risk assessment will be shared will all staff who work with the learner, as well as parents and carers. It will respond to any changes in behaviour and will be regularly updated and evaluated to assess impact.

Our template risk assessment can be found Staff Shared/ Quality/ Safeguarding/Prostart Forms
Appendix 1 Cyberbullying and Sexting What is online abuse?
Child abuse in all its forms is increasingly occurring online. The Internet and its range of content and services can be accessed through an ever developing variety of devices including PCs, laptops, mobile/smart phones, tablets, games consoles.

The Internet has, in particular, become a significant tool in the distribution of child abuse images.

Internet chat rooms and social networking sites can all be used as a means of contacting children with a view to grooming them for inappropriate or abusive relationships. This may include requests to make and transmit indecent images of themselves, or to perform sexual acts live online or to give their mobile phone number and other personal information.

The Serious Crime Act (2015) has introduced an offence of sexual communication with a child. This applies to an adult who communicates with a child and the communication is sexual or if it is intended to elicit from the child a communication which is sexual and the adult reasonably believes the child to be under 16 years of age. The act also amended the Sex Offences Act 2003 so it is now an offence for an adult to arrange to meet with someone under 16, for the purposes of committing a relevant offence, having communicated with them on just one occasion
Crime recording
When the police are notified about youth-produced sexual imagery, they must record this as a crime. The incident is listed as a crime, and the young person is the suspect. This is, however, not the same as a criminal record.

Every crime reported to the police must have an outcome code. The NPCC, Home Office and the DBS have agreed a new outcome code for youth-produced sexual imagery.

Outcome 21: This outcome code allows the police discretion not to take further action if it is not in the public interest, even though there is enough evidence to prosecute.

Using this outcome code is likely to mean the offence would not appear on a future Enhanced DBS check, although not impossible, as that disclosure is a risk-based decision. Organisations can be assured that the police have the discretion they need not to adversely impact young people in the future.
Online bullying or cyber bullying
Children can engage in, or be a target of, bullying using a range of methods including text, phones or social network sites to reach their target. Mobile camera phones are also used to capture violent assaults of other children for circulation. This form of bullying is a growing problem in schools and other settings. It should be taken seriously by any practitioner who becomes aware of it. Harassment by use of ICT is a criminal offence and if necessary concerns should be reported to the police.
Youth produced sexual imagery 'sexting'
Youth produced sexual imagery also known as 'sexting' describes the use of technology to share sexual images (photos and videos) which young people, or another young person, have created themselves. Young people are not always aware that sharing images in this way is illegal. The widespread use of smart phones has made the practice much more common. It is a crime to take, make, permit to take, distribute, show, possess, possess with intent to distribute, or to advertise indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of any person below the age of 18.

The National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC), working in partnership with a wide range of schools, local authorities, polices forces and organisations including the Disclosure and Barring Service, the Internet Watch Foundation, the UK Council for Child Internet Safety, DfE and teaching unions have published guidance for schools and education establishments in England.

S‌exting in Schools and Colleges: responding to incidents and safeguarding young people (2016) UKCCIS - offers practical advice about:

responding to disclosures

handling devices and imagery

risk assessing situations

involving other agencies, including escalation to the police and Children's Social Care

recording incidents

involving parents

preventative education

Handling incidents

Refer to the designated safeguarding lead

DSL meets with the young people involved

Do not view the image unless it is avoidable

Discuss with parents, unless there is an issue where that's not possible

Any concern the young person is at risk of harm, contact social care or the police

Always refer to the police or social care if incident involves:

an adult

coercion, blackmail, or grooming

concerns about capacity to consent, [e.g., SEN]

images show atypical sexual behavior for the child's developmental stage

violent acts are depicted

image shows sex acts and includes a child under 13

a young person at risk of immediate harm as a result of the disclosure (for example, self-harm or suicide)

Assessing the risks once the images have been shared

Has it been shared with the knowledge of the young person?

Are adults involved in the sharing?

Was there pressure to make the image?

What is the impact on those involved?

Does the child or children have additional vulnerabilities?

Has the child taken part in producing sexual imagery before?

Viewing images

Avoid viewing youth-produced sexual imagery. Instead, respond to what you have been told the image contains.

If it is felt necessary to view, discuss with the head teacher first.

Never copy, print, or share the image (it's illegal)

View with another member of staff present

Record the fact that the images were videoed along with reasons and who was present. Sign and date.

Deleting images (from devices and social media)
If the organisation has decided that involving other agencies is not necessary, consideration should be given to deleting the images.

It is recommended that pupils are asked to delete the images themselves and confirm they have done so. This should be recorded, signed, and dated.

Any refusal to delete the images should be treated seriously, reminding the pupil that possession is unlawful.
Appendix 2 Sexual Violence and Harassment Flowchart

Appendix 3 Other Support Services/ Contacts Harmful Sexual Behaviour Support Service | SWGfL
It's available Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm on 0344 225 0623, or hsbsupport@swgfl.org.uk.
Report Harmful Content - We Help You Remove Content Cyber Security | East Midlands Cyber Secure | England Action Fraud Appendix 4 Legislative Background and Context
In the Sexual Offences Act 2003, the term Harmful Sexual Behaviour (HSB) covers a wide range of behaviours. HSB can occur online, offline or in a blend of both environments. The term HSB is widely acknowledged in child protection and should be treated in this context.

"Child-on-child" has evolved from the term "peer-on-peer" in recognition that age and development is a factor in making decisions about behaviour. A significant age difference between the children involved in an incident may lead to a decision about the behaviour being harmful or not. For example, this could be an older child's behaviour towards a pre-pubescent child, or a younger child's behaviour towards an older child with learning difficulties. It is important that designated safeguarding leads (DSL) know what is and is not HSB.

DSLs should be involved in planning the curriculum for HSB, planning preventative actions and ensuring a whole-school culture that tackles HSB, alongside all other forms of abuse and harassment. This template policy provides a basis for an effective approach to managing sexual violence and harassment.

Harmful sexual behaviours can be self-directed, for example, using highly sexualised language, persistent private and or public masturbation, prolifically watching or searching for pornographic content/ age-inappropriate materials. To understand more about the range of behaviours that should be recognised as harmful, please refer to the NSPCC Harmful sexual behaviour framework.

The following are sexual offences under the Sexual Offences Act 2003:

Rape

A person (A) commits an offence of rape if: he intentionally penetrates the vagina, anus or mouth of another person (B) with his penis, B does not consent to the penetration and A does not reasonably believe that B consents.

Assault by Penetration

A person (A) commits an offence if: s/he intentionally penetrates the vagina or anus of another person (B) with a part of her/his body or anything else, the penetration is sexual, B does not consent to the penetration and A does not reasonably believe that B consents.

Sexual Assault

A person (A) commits an offence of sexual assault if: s/he intentionally touches another person (B), the touching is sexual, B does not consent to the touching and A does not reasonably believe that B consents. (NOTE- Schools and colleges should be aware that sexual assault covers a very wide range of behaviour so a single act of kissing someone without consent or touching someone's bottom/breasts/genitalia without consent, can still constitute sexual assault.)

Causing someone to engage in sexual activity without consent

A person (A) commits an offence if: s/he intentionally causes another person (B) to engage in an activity, the activity is sexual, B does not consent to engage in the activity, and A does not reasonably believe that B consents. (NOTE - this could include forcing someone to strip, touch themselves sexually, or to engage in sexual activity with a third party.)

Part 5 in the Keeping children safe in education statutory guidance (2022) states:

When referring to sexual harassment we mean 'unwanted conduct of a sexual nature' that can occur online and offline and both inside and outside of school/college. When we reference sexual harassment, we do so in the context of child-on-child sexual harassment. Sexual harassment is likely to: violate a child's dignity, and/or make them feel intimidated, degraded or humiliated and/or create a hostile, offensive or sexualised environment.

Whilst not intended to be an exhaustive list, sexual harassment can include:

Sexual comments, such as: telling sexual stories, making lewd comments, making sexual remarks about clothes and appearance and calling someone sexualised names

Sexual "jokes" or taunting

Physical behaviour, such as: deliberately brushing against someone, interfering with someone's clothes (schools and colleges should make clear that when any of this crosses a line into sexual violence - it is important to talk to and consider the experience of the victim) and displaying pictures, photos or drawings of a sexual nature; and

Online sexual harassment may be standalone, or part of a wider pattern of sexual harassment and/or sexual violence. It may include:

Consensual and non-consensual sharing of nude and semi-nude images and/or videos. Taking and sharing nude photographs of U18s is a criminal offence.

Sharing of unwanted explicit content

Upskirting (this is a criminal offence)

Sexualised online bullying

Unwanted sexual comments and messages, including, on social media

Sexual exploitation; coercion and threats

It is important that schools and colleges consider sexual harassment in broad terms. Sexual harassment (as set out above) creates a culture that, if not challenged, can normalise inappropriate behaviours and provide an environment that may lead to sexual violence.

V1 October 22

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Harmful Sexual Behaviour Policy - Prostart

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Prostart Policy on Harmful Sexual Behaviour Statement of Intent Prostart has a zero-tolerance approach to any harmful sexual behaviour involving children/young people and acknowledges that it could be occurring in our community. Prostart is proactive in its approach to assessing prevalence, responding to incidents and challenging and changing behaviour.

# data[].attributes.headline
Stop Non-Consensual Intimate Image Abuse

# data[].attributes.subject
Stop Non-Consensual Intimate Image Abuse

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
Designed and Developed by South West Grid for Learning (https://swgfl.org.uk/)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Stop Non-Consensual Intimate Image Abuse | StopNCII.org

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
StopNCII.org is operated by the Revenge Porn Helpline which is part of SWGfL, a charity that believes that all should benefit from technology, free from harm.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Founder of Everyone's Invited: Soma Sara | Full Address and Q&A | Oxford Union

# data[].attributes.headline
Tips for Building a Healthy Relationship

# data[].attributes.subject
Tips for Building a Healthy Relationship

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
love & friendship
Want to feel loved and connected to your partner? These tips can help you build and keep a romantic relationship that's healthy, happy, and satisfying.

Building a healthy relationship

All romantic relationships go through ups and downs and they all take work, commitment, and a willingness to adapt and change with your partner. But whether your relationship is just starting out or you've been together for years, there are steps you can take to build a healthy relationship. Even if you've experienced a lot of failed relationships in the past or have struggled before to rekindle the fires of romance in your current relationship, you can find ways to stay connected, find fulfillment, and enjoy lasting happiness.

What makes a healthy relationship?

Every relationship is unique, and people come together for many different reasons. Part of what defines a healthy relationship is sharing a common goal for exactly what you want the relationship to be and where you want it to go. And that's something you'll only know by talking deeply and honestly with your partner.

However, there are also some characteristics that most healthy relationships have in common. Knowing these basic principles can help keep your relationship meaningful, fulfilling and exciting whatever goals you're working towards or challenges you're facing together.

You maintain a meaningful emotional connection with each other. You each make the other feel loved and emotionally fulfilled. There's a difference between being loved and feeling loved. When you feel loved, it makes you feel accepted and valued by your partner, like someone truly gets you. Some relationships get stuck in peaceful coexistence, but without the partners truly relating to each other emotionally. While the union may seem stable on the surface, a lack of ongoing involvement and emotional connection serves only to add distance between two people.

You're not afraid of (respectful) disagreement. Some couples talk things out quietly, while others may raise their voices and passionately disagree. The key in a strong relationship, though, is not to be fearful of conflict. You need to feel safe to express things that bother you without fear of retaliation, and be able to resolve conflict without humiliation, degradation, or insisting on being right.

You keep outside relationships and interests alive. Despite the claims of romantic fiction or movies, no one person can meet all of your needs. In fact, expecting too much from your partner can put unhealthy pressure on a relationship. To stimulate and enrich your romantic relationship, it's important to sustain your own identity outside of the relationship, preserve connections with family and friends, and maintain your hobbies and interests.
[Read: Making Good Friends]
You communicate openly and honestly. Good communication is a key part of any relationship. When both people know what they want from the relationship and feel comfortable expressing their needs, fears, and desires, it can increase trust and strengthen the bond between you.

With over 25,000 licensed counselors, BetterHelp has a therapist that fits your needs. It's easy, affordable, and convenient.

Online-Therapy.com is a complete toolbox of support, when you need it, on your schedule. It only takes a few minutes to sign up.

Teen Counseling is an online therapy service for teens and young adults. Connect with your counselor by video, phone, or chat.

Falling in love vs. staying in love

For most people, falling in love usually seems to just happen. It's staying in love-or preserving that "falling in love" experience-that requires commitment and work. Given its rewards, though, it's well worth the effort. A healthy, secure romantic relationship can serve as an ongoing source of support and happiness in your life, through good times and bad, strengthening all aspects of your wellbeing. By taking steps now to preserve or rekindle your falling in love experience, you can build a meaningful relationship that lasts-even for a lifetime.

Many couples focus on their relationship only when there are specific, unavoidable problems to overcome. Once the problems have been resolved they often switch their attention back to their careers, kids, or other interests. However, romantic relationships require ongoing attention and commitment for love to flourish. As long as the health of a romantic relationship remains important to you, it is going to require your attention and effort. And identifying and fixing a small problem in your relationship now can often help prevent it from growing into a much larger one down road.

The following tips can help you to preserve that falling in love experience and keep your romantic relationship healthy.

Tip 1: Spend quality time face to face

You fall in love looking at and listening to each other. If you continue to look and listen in the same attentive ways, you can sustain the falling in love experience over the long term. You probably have fond memories of when you were first dating your loved one. Everything seemed new and exciting, and you likely spent hours just chatting together or coming up with new, exciting things to try. However, as time goes by, the demands of work, family, other obligations, and the need we all have for time to ourselves can make it harder to find time together.

Many couples find that the face-to-face contact of their early dating days is gradually replaced by hurried texts, emails, and instant messages. While digital communication is great for some purposes, it doesn't positively impact your brain and nervous system in the same way as face-to-face communication. Sending a text or a voice message to your partner saying "I love you" is great, but if you rarely look at them or have the time to sit down together, they'll still feel you don't understand or appreciate them. And you'll become more distanced or disconnected as a couple. The emotional cues you both need to feel loved can only be conveyed in person, so no matter how busy life gets, it's important to carve out time to spend together.

Commit to spending some quality time together on a regular basis. No matter how busy you are, take a few minutes each day to put aside your electronic devices, stop thinking about other things, and really focus on and connect with your partner.

Find something that you enjoy doing together, whether it is a shared hobby, dance class, daily walk, or sitting over a cup of coffee in the morning.

Try something new together. Doing new things together can be a fun way to connect and keep things interesting. It can be as simple as trying a new restaurant or going on a day trip to a place you've never been before.

Focus on having fun together. Couples are often more fun and playful in the early stages of a relationship. However, this playful attitude can sometimes be forgotten as life challenges start getting in the way or old resentments start building up. Keeping a sense of humor can actually help you get through tough times, reduce stress and work through issues more easily. Think about playful ways to surprise your partner, like bringing flowers home or unexpectedly booking a table at their favorite restaurant. Playing with pets or small children can also help you reconnect with your playful side.

Do things together that benefit others

One the most powerful ways of staying close and connected is to jointly focus on something you and your partner value outside of the relationship. Volunteering for a cause, project, or community work that has meaning for both of you can keep a relationship fresh and interesting. It can also expose you both to new people and ideas, offer the chance to tackle new challenges together, and provide fresh ways of interacting with each other.

As well as helping to relieve stress, anxiety, and depression, doing things to benefit others delivers immense pleasure. Human beings are hard-wired to help others. The more you help, the happier you'll feel--as individuals and as a couple.

Tip 2: Stay connected through communication

Good communication is a fundamental part of a healthy relationship. When you experience a positive emotional connection with your partner, you feel safe and happy. When people stop communicating well, they stop relating well, and times of change or stress can really bring out the disconnect. It may sound simplistic, but as long as you are communicating, you can usually work through whatever problems you're facing.

Tell your partner what you need, don't make them guess.

It's not always easy to talk about what you need. For one, many of us don't spend enough time thinking about what's really important to us in a relationship. And even if you do know what you need, talking about it can make you feel vulnerable, embarrassed, or even ashamed. But look at it from your partner's point of view. Providing comfort and understanding to someone you love is a pleasure, not a burden.
[Read: Effective Communication]
If you've known each other for a while, you may assume that your partner has a pretty good idea of what you are thinking and what you need. However, your partner is not a mind-reader. While your partner may have some idea, it is much healthier to express your needs directly to avoid any confusion.

Your partner may sense something, but it might not be what you need. What's more, people change, and what you needed and wanted five years ago, for example, may be very different now. So instead of letting resentment, misunderstanding, or anger grow when your partner continually gets it wrong, get in the habit of telling them exactly what you need.

Take note of your partner's nonverbal cues

So much of our communication is transmitted by what we don't say. Nonverbal cues, which include eye contact, tone of voice, posture, and gestures such as leaning forward, crossing your arms, or touching someone's hand, communicate much more than words.

When you can pick up on your partner's nonverbal cues or "body language," you'll be able to tell how they really feel and be able to respond accordingly. For a relationship to work well, each person has to understand their own and their partner's nonverbal cues. Your partner's responses may be different from yours. For example, one person might find a hug after a stressful day a loving mode of communication-while another might just want to take a walk together or sit and chat.

It's also important to make sure that what you say matches your body language. If you say "I'm fine," but you clench your teeth and look away, then your body is clearly signaling you are anything but "fine."

When you experience positive emotional cues from your partner, you feel loved and happy, and when you send positive emotional cues, your partner feels the same. When you stop taking an interest in your own or your partner's emotions, you'll damage the connection between you and your ability to communicate will suffer, especially during stressful times.

Be a good listener

While a great deal of emphasis in our society is put on talking, if you can learn to listen in a way that makes another person feel valued and understood, you can build a deeper, stronger connection between you.

There's a big difference between listening in this way and simply hearing. When you really listen-when you're engaged with what's being said-you'll hear the subtle intonations in your partner's voice that tells you how they're really feeling and the emotions they're trying to communicate. Being a good listener doesn't mean you have to agree with your partner or change your mind. But it will help you find common points of view that can help you to resolve conflict.

Manage stress

When you're stressed or emotionally overwhelmed, you're more likely to misread your romantic partner, send confusing or off-putting nonverbal signals, or lapse into unhealthy knee-jerk patterns of behavior. How often have you been stressed and flown off the handle at your loved one and said or done something you later regretted?

If you can learn to quickly manage stress and return to a calm state, you'll not only avoid such regrets, but you'll also help to avoid conflict and misunderstandings--and even help to calm your partner when tempers build.

Tip 3: Keep physical intimacy alive

Touch is a fundamental part of human existence. Studies on infants have shown the importance of regular, affectionate contact for brain development. And the benefits don't end in childhood. Affectionate contact boosts the body's levels of oxytocin, a hormone that influences bonding and attachment.

While sex is often a cornerstone of a committed relationship, it shouldn't be the only method of physical intimacy. Frequent, affectionate touch-holding hands, hugging, kissing-is equally important.
[Read: Better Sex as You Age]
Of course, it's important to be sensitive to what your partner likes. Unwanted touching or inappropriate overtures can make the other person tense up and retreat-exactly what you don't want. As with so many other aspects of a healthy relationship, this can come down to how well you communicate your needs and intentions with your partner.

Even if you have pressing workloads or young children to worry about, you can help to keep physical intimacy alive by carving out some regular couple time, whether that's in the form of a date night or simply an hour at the end of the day when you can sit and talk or hold hands.

Tip 4: Learn to give and take in your relationship

If you expect to get what you want 100% of the time in a relationship, you are setting yourself up for disappointment. Healthy relationships are built on compromise. However, it takes work on each person's part to make sure that there is a reasonable exchange.

Recognize what's important to your partner

Knowing what is truly important to your partner can go a long way towards building goodwill and an atmosphere of compromise. On the flip side, it's also important for your partner to recognize your wants and for you to state them clearly. Constantly giving to others at the expense of your own needs will only build resentment and anger.

Don't make "winning" your goal

If you approach your partner with the attitude that things have to be your way or else, it will be difficult to reach a compromise. Sometimes this attitude comes from not having your needs met while younger, or it could be years of accumulated resentment in the relationship reaching a boiling point. It's alright to have strong convictions about something, but your partner deserves to be heard as well. Be respectful of the other person and their viewpoint.

Learn how to respectfully resolve conflict

Conflict is inevitable in any relationship, but to keep a relationship strong, both people need to feel they've been heard. The goal is not to win but to maintain and strengthen the relationship.

Make sure you are fighting fair. Keep the focus on the issue at hand and respect the other person. Don't start arguments over things that cannot be changed.

Don't attack someone directly but use "I" statements to communicate how you feel. For example, instead of saying, "You make me feel bad" try "I feel bad when you do that".

Don't drag old arguments into the mix. Rather than looking to past conflicts or grudges and assigning blame, focus on what you can do in the here-and-now to solve the problem.

Be willing to forgive. Resolving conflict is impossible if you're unwilling or unable to forgive others.

If tempers flare, take a break. Take a few minutes to relieve stress and calm down before you say or do something you'll regret. Always remember that you're arguing with the person you love.

Know when to let something go. If you can't come to an agreement, agree to disagree. It takes two people to keep an argument going. If a conflict is going nowhere, you can choose to disengage and move on.

Tip 5: Be prepared for ups and downs

It's important to recognize that there are ups and downs in every relationship. You won't always be on the same page. Sometimes one partner may be struggling with an issue that stresses them, such as the death of a close family member. Other events, like job loss or severe health problems, can affect both partners and make it difficult to relate to each other. You might have different ideas of managing finances or raising children.

Different people cope with stress differently, and misunderstandings can rapidly turn to frustration and anger.
[Read: Surviving Tough Times by Building Resilience]
Don't take out your problems on your partner. Life stresses can make us short tempered. If you are coping with a lot of stress, it might seem easier to vent with your partner, and even feel safer to snap at them. Fighting like this might initially feel like a release, but it slowly poisons your relationship. Find other healthier ways to manage your stress, anger, and frustration.

Trying to force a solution can cause even more problems. Every person works through problems and issues in their own way. Remember that you're a team. Continuing to move forward together can get you through the rough spots.

Look back to the early stages of your relationship. Share the moments that brought the two of you together, examine the point at which you began to drift apart, and resolve how you can work together to rekindle that falling in love experience.

Be open to change. Change is inevitable in life, and it will happen whether you go with it or fight it. Flexibility is essential to adapt to the change that is always taking place in any relationship, and it allows you to grow together through both the good times and the bad.

If you need outside help for your relationship, reach out together. Sometimes problems in a relationship can seem too complex or overwhelming for you to handle as a couple. Couples therapy or talking together with a trusted friend or religious figure can help.
Authors: Lawrence Robinson, Melinda Smith, M.A., and Jeanne Segal, Ph.D.

Am I in a Healthy Relationship? - Article aimed at teens to determine if your relationship is as healthy as it should be. (TeensHealth)

Help with Relationships - Articles addressing common relationship problems, such as arguments and conflict, communication, and infidelity. (Relate UK)

ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Tips for Building a Healthy Relationship - HelpGuide.org

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
love & friendship All romantic relationships go through ups and downs and they all take work, commitment, and a willingness to adapt and change with your partner. But whether your relationship is just starting out or you've been together for years, there are steps you can take to build a healthy relationship.

# data[].attributes.headline
What Does a Healthy Relationship Look Like

# data[].attributes.subject
What Does a Healthy Relationship Look Like

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
What Does a Healthy Relationship Look Like?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Healthy relationships involve honesty, trust, respect and open communication between partners and they take effort and compromise from both people. There is no imbalance of power. Partners respect each other's independence, can make their own decisions without fear of retribution or retaliation, and share decisions.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
What is Domestic Abuse? Domestic abuse is an incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, bullying, threatening or violent behaviour, by a partner, ex partner or family member. But it isn't just physical violence - domestic abuse includes emotional, physical, sexual, economic and psychological abuse. Abusive behaviour can happen in...

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Stalked for six years by a stranger - BBC News

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Video title: Refuge's 24-hour, Freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline
Video duration: 1 minute 20 seconds
Description: Information video on what it is like to call the National Domestic Abuse Helpline and who can call it.

Refuge's 24-hour, Freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline 'Transcript'

[Background music plays]

Soft down beat music

[Animated sequence]

Animation in hand-drawn style showing a woman in a house standing behind a man on a sofa. The woman looks worried and the man appears angry, a speech bubble comes out of the man's mouth.

[Text displays]

!*!!*!!

[Female voice over]

I was walking on eggshells around my partner didn't know where to turn.

[Animated sequence]

The door in the background slams shut. We zoom in on it and it turns into a smart mobile phone in the women's hand. The phone displays the details of the National Domestic Abuse Helpline Number and a green phone icon. Her finger hovers over the phone icon.

[Text displays]

Refuge National Domestic Abuse Helpline 0808 2000 247

[Female voice over]

I'd read about refuges National Domestic Abuse Helpline, but I was hesitant to call.

[Animated sequence]

The scene transitions to the woman sitting on a couch to the left of the screen, and another woman, the Helpline adviser, sitting on the right on a computer. They are facing each other. The screen is split into two different backgrounds with a window in the background that crosses over both.

[Female voice over]

The woman I spoke to really understood my situation though, it was such a relief just to talk.

[Animated sequence]

The woman begins to smile. The blinds in the window open up to show a sun and both rooms become brighter.

[Animated sequence]

Scene transitions to a top down view of the Helpline worker writing on lined paper.

[Female voice over]

I was reassured that it was a confidential and non-judgmental service run by a charity.

[Text displays]

Confidential

Non-judgemental

[Female voice over]

She said I could ring at any time, even if I just wanted to talk about what I was going through

[Text displays]

Any time

Just talk

[Female voice over]

It's free and open 24 hours a day.

[Text displays]

Free

24 hours

[Animated sequence]

Scene zooms out to show a group of five women of mixed races and ages including the Helpline adviser from the earlier scene.

[Female voice over]

It was comforting to know that the helpline is staffed by an all female team of experts,

[Animated sequence]

Scene zooms out to show smart mobile phone showing an animation of the live chat page on nationaldahelpline.org.uk. The women's finger begins to type.

[Female voice over]

and that I can also contact them using live chat.

[Sound effect]

Keys tapping

[Animated sequence]

The phone fades away and four framed picture swing into view. They show four women of various ages and races, one of who is pictured with a child, including the women from the first scene.

[Female voice over]

I was told that the helpline is open to any woman who is afraid of her partner,

[Sound effect]

Glass cracking

[Animated sequence]

The glass in one of the picture frames cracks

[Text displays]

[Female voice over]

whether you're being physically abused or not

[Animated sequence]

The picture of the woman from the first scene is zoomed in on. She picks up her mobile phone as the frame turns into a circle. Another circular frame, showing the Helpline adviser, comes into view and begins to merge with the woman's frame. The woman and the Helpline worker turn to face each other and hold hands.

[Female voice over]

The Helpline advisor helped me realise I'm not alone and reassured me it wasn't my fault.

[Text displays]

I'm not alone

[Animated sequence]

Scene scrolls across to show the woman looking in a mirror and hugging herself. She begins to smile.

[Female voice over]

That was really empowering and I began to believe in myself again.

She made me feel like I had choices.

[Background music plays]

Music becomes more upbeat

[Animated sequence]

Scene zooms in on mirror until the frame is not visible. The background transitions to show a countryside scene with rolling hills, trees and butterflies. The woman lifts a hot drink to take a sip and closes her eyes.

[Female voice over]

From that moment on, I could see a life free from violence and fear.

That phone call was the beginning of the rest of my life.

[Animated sequence]

The woman opens her eyes and looks up.

[Animated sequence]

Scene fades to show black text on a white background below the Refuge pink and black logo.

[Text displays]

Refuge's Freephone, 24 hour, National Domestic Abuse Helpline.
Call us on 0808 2000 247
Or visit wwww.nationaldahelpline.org.uk for information and support, including our live chat and secure online contact form.

We know our lines are often busy but we really want to hear from you.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Home | Refuge National Domestic Abuse Helpline

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Video title: Refuge's 24-hour, Freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline Video duration: 1 minute 20 seconds Description: Information video on what it is like to call the National Domestic Abuse Helpline and who can call it.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This Page is [ARCHIVED CONTENT] and shows what the site page https://www.disrespectnobody.co.uk/ looked like on 25 Feb 2022 at 16:24:56

# data[].attributes.headline
What Do I Do If Someone Threatens to leak my nudes

# data[].attributes.subject
What Do I Do If Someone Threatens to leak my nudes

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Find out more about consent for sharing images and videos online.

What is an 'intimate' image or video?

What one person thinks is intimate can be different to what another person thinks. When investigating image-based abuse, eSafety takes the circumstances of each individual situation into account.

Images and videos are usually classed as intimate if they show a person:

nude or partly naked - such as a naked selfie or a topless photo of someone who identifies as female

with private parts of their body in close up - even if they have underwear on, including upskirt shots

during a private activity - such as undressing, using the toilet, showering, bathing or engaging in sexual activity

a fake intimate image or video - altered to look like you.

An image or video can also be classed as 'intimate' if it shows a person without the religious or cultural clothes or accessories they would normally wear in public (such as a hijab or turban).

What if I'm being blackmailed?

If someone tries to blackmail you over your intimate images or videos that's a type of image-based abuse called 'sexual extortion' (sometimes known as 'sextortion'). If you're being blackmailed over your nudes - for money or something else - it's best NOT to pay, and to stop all contact with the blackmailer.

Here are some examples:

Someone 'catfishes' you. This is when they use a fake profile and pretend to have a relationship with you so they can scam you. They may ask you to send nudes, or record you getting sexual online, then threaten to share the images or videos with your family or friends if you don't pay them. They could demand an online bank transfer, cryptocurrency, gift cards or online game credits.

Someone claims to have hacked your device or account and found intimate images or videos of you. They might even use one of your current or former passwords to make you believe it's true, but you can never be sure if they really do have access. They threaten to share an image or video they've 'found' on your device or in your account unless you pay up.

Someone 'grooms' you. This is when a sexual predator tricks your into thinking you're in a close relationship so you feel OK about sending nudes or getting nude online. Then they tell you they'll make the images or videos public, or hurt you or someone you care about, unless you send more nudes or get sexual with them on camera. Usually they share or sell your images or videos without you knowing, before they even threaten you. If they're someone who targets people under 18, they're called a 'paedophile'.

Catfishing, scamming or grooming someone and then blackmailing them is illegal. Even if you pay up (by sending money or more nudes, or getting sexual online) you can never be sure they won't share the first image or video. If you pay, they'll just keep asking for more. The best thing to do is stop all contact with them and report what's happening.

If you're under 18 and being blackmailed, you should report this serious crime straight away to specialist investigators at the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation.

If you're 18 or older and being blackmailed, report it to the service or platform where the blackmailer first contacted you. If the service or platform doesn't help you, or if your intimate image or video is posted online, then you can report to eSafety. You can also check Scamwatch to find out more about current scams.

What if I'm not being blackmailed?

If someone is threatening to share your intimate images or videos that's illegal, even if they're not trying to blackmail you.

eSafety can help you try to stop the other person and protect yourself from it happening again. We can also help you find further support and counselling.

Before you do anything else

You don't have to cope with being threatened on your own. It's a good idea to tell an adult you trust, like a family member or teacher. Even though it can be hard, talking about it can make a big difference. You can get a fresh point of view and work out what to do together.

Try to stay connected with your support person while you get more information and deal with the situation - you could show them this webpage so they understand more about image-based abuse and can give you ongoing help.
These are the next steps:

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Someone is threatening to share my nudes | eSafety Commissioner

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
If someone threatens to share a nude image or video of you, that's a type of image-based abuse (or 'revenge porn') and it's illegal. If they are trying to blackmail you, that's also illegal. You can report both and get help.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Report inappropriate images or videos posted without your consent

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
We recognize that the non-consensual sharing of private nude, sexually explicit, or non-explicit intimate and sexual images and videos (e.g. "revenge porn") is distressing. This form enables you to request that sharing of these images and videos be restricted on Google products, including: Please know that we only restrict sharing of images or videos that meet our requirements.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Content warning: This section includes graphic sexual descriptions.

A nude image must include one of the following to be removed:

nude or semi-nude sexual posing

someone nude or semi-nude touching themselves in a sexual way

any sexual activity involving a child

someone hurting someone else sexually

sexual activity that includes animals.

Where possible, it is better if you can upload the original image or video, or a copy of it, rather than a photograph of it on another screen. This helps IWF find the image more accurately.

If you want to report something that isn't a nude image or video to see if it can be taken down, you can see more information from Childline about deleting things shared online here. You can make a report to CEOP, the part of the police who are there to support children and young people online. You can always speak to a Childline counsellor.

Confirming your age with ID gives us more legal powers to remove images from as many places as possible. If you don't have ID or feel comfortable using it, we can still take down images, but from fewer places.

You can use the following ID to confirm your identity using Yoti:

passport or biometric residence permit

driving licence and provisional licence

Young Scot Card (Yoti app only)

CitizenCard (Yoti app only).

If you don't have any of these, you can get a young person's ID card. You'll be able to get this for £5 with the promo code NSPCC5. Make sure you choose 'Yoti CitizenCard' on the first page.

Whatever ID you use, please make sure that it is valid and in-date.

IWF will read all reports within one working day, from Monday to Friday. The time it takes to get your image removed from the internet can be different depending on where the image is hosted.

If the image is on a UK-based website it can often be removed within 2-3 hours. Unfortunately, in some countries it can take longer - sometimes days or weeks. But IWF analysts will always try to make sure it happens as soon as possible.

We'll do our best to let you know once your image has been removed by sending a message to your  Childline locker.

We recommend you check your locker every few days after you make a report. This is so you can see if your image has been removed, and so Childline can let you know if IWF need more information to be able to remove it. Remember, IWF can't contact you directly.

If you need support to help you cope while you're waiting, you can also speak to a Childline counsellor any time.

When you use Report Remove, your image or video is shared with the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF). They'll work to get your image removed from the internet. See 'Who are the IWF?' to learn about how that happens.

Most of the time, nobody will know that you've made a report and your report won't be shared with anyone else.

If the police already have the image or video you report, then they might investigate what's happened. Only the police can decide if they'll need to tell someone else.

The police might already have your image or video if:

someone has reported it on another website and that website passed it to the police

they're investigating someone who had or has the image or video already (if someone is found to have your image and is breaking the law - regardless of how, it may be included as evidence in a criminal case against that person

someone else reported the image to them directly.

Remember that the police are there to protect you, not to get you into trouble. If the image has been reported somewhere else and you're worried, you can always  speak to a Childline counsellor.

If you have parental controls on your phone your parent or carer might see when you want to download a new app, so they might get a notification if you try to download Yoti and want to know why. To avoid this, use the second option to prove your age (called 'ID verification').

The IWF can remove images that are public or available to anyone on the internet. However, they won't be able to remove images or videos on encrypted networks like WhatsApp, or which are saved on a person's phone or computer.

If you're over 13 and you've made a report without using ID, then there may be some sites the IWF can't take images down from.

If you don't use ID the IWF can help by removing your image or video from most sites. If you do use ID, the IWF can remove from all sites

The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), a UK charity, are there to help remove illegal nude images of under 18s posted online.

Once the IWF has confirmed your nude image is against the law and can be removed from the internet they give it a digital fingerprint called a 'hash'. The hash can be used to find your image online even if it has been cropped or slightly changed.

Sharing just the hash with certain trusted companies and organisations, means that technology can be used to find online matches of the image - this is key to trying to stop it appearing in different places on the internet. Even though the hashes and images are shared with UK police, this is so that if they came across the image some other way, they'd know that you also reported it yourself. Report Remove was developed with the full support of the police and no one involved wants to get you into trouble for sharing the image so it can be removed.

Different companies use the hash in different ways. For example, if an illegal image match is found to have been shared by an online account holder, a company may decide to close that person's account as posting illegal images will be against the company's terms and conditions. If your image(s) are found on or are linked to your online user account(s) it may be possible for the company to associate your profile with the images.

The companies that take the hashes trust the Report Remove process, however if they have significant concerns that the person in the image may not be the person who was age verified, they may get in touch with the IWF to raise their concerns.

There are 3 organisations that help you report your image using Report Remove. These are Childline, the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) and also Yoti if you are 13 or older and choose to prove your age using ID. All of them have a responsibility to keep all of your personal information safe.

1. We'll ask you to choose your age range (under 13, 13-15, 16-17, 18 and over). If you're under 13, you'll go straight to step 3. If you're aged 13 or older, us at Childline will ask you if you have access to ID to prove your age. If you do, you'll be asked to visit Yoti. The only information we will share with Yoti is that you are wanting to prove your age to use Report Remove.

2. Once you prove your age using Yoti, you will come back to Report Remove on Childline. The only information Yoti will share with Childline is confirmation that you're younger or older than 18.

3. We'll then ask you to create or sign in to a Childline account. Then you'll go to the IWF website to share the content you want removed. Childline will only share the information below with IWF:

that you're younger than 18 (either confirmed by Yoti, or that you told us you are younger than 18),

the age range you selected at the start,

a unique number that is created when you use Report Remove.

4. After your report has been passed to the IWF, they will tell Childline if they were able to work to take the images or video down from the internet, and why. This is so Childline can let you know what happened. IWF may also tell Childline some information about what you reported, to help them know how best to support you and keep you safe. IWF will never share an image or video that you report with Childline.

Information you give to Childline
Any information you give Childline will always be treated carefully and in line with our  Privacy Policy. This means that any information you give us as part of Report Remove will only be used to help the IWF review your report and to keep you safe. This will include the age range that you select and a unique number that's created when you go onto the IWF website. We will not share any of your information with Yoti.
Information you give to IWF
The only information you will give to the IWF are the images, videos or URLs you report. There is space to add information such as where the image or video is on a webpage.

They will process this in line with their privacy policy.

Nude images and videos that IWF decide are illegal may be kept by the IWF for up to 2 years. This is because there is an agreement with the Police and CPS (Crime Prosecution Service), called a 'Memorandum of Understanding' (MOU). Illegal images are given a hash (a string of numbers that are like a digital fingerprint). The hash is shared with organisations such as technology companies who host online content, so that they can look for the image and take it down. The actual image is not shared with these companies. The image and the hash are shared with the police who store it on their Child Abuse Image Database. Any images or videos that they decide are not illegal may be kept for a maximum of 6 months for quality checking and any follow up questions. They will then be deleted. Sometimes, even if it's decided that the content isn't illegal, IWF can share the content URL with some industry members to see if they can take the content down.

If you report a URL (link to a webpage), and choose not to prove your age using ID, IWF will still check to see if the content is something they can take action on. If so IWF may share the URL with South West Grid for Learning (SWGfL), who are a charity who help people who have had intimate images of them shared online. SWGfL will never view the content on a URL that is shared with them. SWGfL send a notice to internet companies that host the webpage you reported, to tell them to take it down. This is because IWF can only send a notice to companies to take a specific webpage down when it is confirmed it is of a child. SWGfL can also send notice to take down content, but they do not need to prove it is of a child. This helps get your images or videos from even more places.

Childline will never see what pictures, videos or URLs you share with the IWF. The only information the IWF shares with Childline apart from your case number is whether or not they could take down your images or videos, and why, so we can let you know, as well as information about the image or video that you reported that will help Childline to support you and keep you safe.

Information you give to Yoti
You can choose to use Yoti to confirm your age if you're over 13. This may involve taking a selfie, so Yoti know it is you who are proving your age, and uploading a picture of some ID. Any personal data you send Yoti - like your photo, date of birth or address - is scrambled with a high level of encryption so that even if it was stolen, no one could use it to identify you. The only information Yoti shares with Childline is confirmation that you're under or over 18.

You can see Yoti's privacy policy here, and more information about their age portal here, which is what is used in Report Remove to prove your age.

If you're using the Yoti app, Yoti may use the selfie, month and year of birth you add to the Yoti app to improve its age estimation technology. You can opt out from this in the More> My Data> Biometric consent menu of the app.

There are lots of ways to get help with your report:

if you're having problems with Yoti, you can contact them directly in the app.

if you need any support with making your report send a message to Childline with the title 'Report Remove'.

Childline counsellors are always here for you and want to help. And you can  talk to them  about anything you're going through.
I have a technical issue, what should I do?

Try using your default browser and close private browsing if you're using the Yoti app.

See if you can log in to your locker and send an email to Childline explaining your problem and the team will be able to help.

Make sure the ID you're using is valid and in-date (not expired).

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Use Report Remove to remove a nude image shared online

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Sex without consent is rape - it’s as simple as tea!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Educators: Consent. Relationships & Sexual Education (RSE) Course

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Consent is a vital topic to address with young people. This course is based on original research with young people and includes a range of activities.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
If you’re being stalked, contact the police or get advice from organisations including the National Stalking helpline.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
What counts as harassment in the workplace and what you can do about it.