Refuge welcomes new measures to tackle violent pornography and image abuse

Ellie Butt, head of policy and public affairs at Refuge, said:

“Refuge welcomes amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill, which will enhance protections for women and girls by introducing new laws around violent pornography and intimate image abuse.

Technology plays an immeasurable role in both influencing and facilitating violence against women and girls. At Refuge alone, we saw a 205% increase in referrals to our dedicated Technology-Facilitated Abuse and Economic Empowerment Team between 2018 and 2024.”

Tackling violent and misogynistic content

Butt said criminalising the possession or publication of violent pornography was a vital step toward addressing cultural forms of misogyny.

“Across the internet, violent and misogynistic pornography is pervasive. Not only is this distorting how young people understand sex and relationships, but it also contributes to a culture in which violence against women and girls is normalised – and even eroticised.

No one should grow up thinking that violence against women is a normal or expected part of sexual behaviour. Regulation of this content is a vital step towards combatting culturally embedded forms of misogyny and VAWG.”

Refuge urged regulators to ensure the new duties on online platforms are properly enforced, with Ofcom using its full powers to hold sites accountable if they fail to act.

Stronger legal protection for survivors

The charity also praised the decision to extend the prosecution time limit for intimate image offences, allowing survivors more time to come forward.

“This means that perpetrators who take or share an intimate image without consent can now be prosecuted within three years of the offence, giving survivors critical time to process the abuse and report it if and when they are ready,” Butt said.

Call for enforcement, training and funding

While welcoming the changes, Refuge warned that police and prosecutors must be properly equipped to implement them.

“As it stands, police do not have the capacity, training, or resources to effectively respond to intimate image abuse. Despite it having been a crime to share intimate images without consent since 2015, survivors have continued to tell Refuge that police are not treating reports with sufficient seriousness,” Butt added.

Refuge called for:

• Trauma-informed training across police forces and the Crown Prosecution Service;

• Effective enforcement of online safety duties; and

• Sustained funding for specialist frontline services.

“These changes must be backed by proper training and resources,” Butt said. “The Government must make tackling online VAWG and tech-facilitated abuse a key part of its upcoming VAWG strategy, supported by sustainable funding for the services that provide lifesaving support to those who need it most.”