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Police routinely failing to investigate revenge porn, super-complaint alleges

Charges were brought in only 4.5% of cases last year, research finds, as lawyers file formal complaint over systemic failings

By LineZotpaper
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Lawyers and charities have filed a police super-complaint alleging that forces in England and Wales are routinely failing to investigate image-based abuse, with charges brought in an average of just 4.5% of cases last year despite a surge in reports. The complaint, submitted by Leigh Day, the Centre for Women's Justice and #NotYourPorn, argues that the policing response is 'fragmented, inconsistent and incapable of meeting the scale of the threat.'

Research gathered from 100 people who reported intimate images being shared without their consent suggests that image-based abuse is frequently dismissed or not recognised as a crime, despite being described by the former prime minister Keir Starmer as a national emergency.

Referrals to the Revenge Porn Helpline increased by more than 4,000% between 2015 and 2025, yet data from 39 police forces shows charging rates as low as 1% in some areas. Home Office figures record only 569 charges for image-based abuse in 2025/2026, while the helpline received almost 25,000 reports last year.

Some officers responded inappropriately, researchers found. One victim reported that the officer 'almost giggled on the phone to me,' another was told 'boys will be boys,' and a third heard: 'I bet you've learned your lesson.' Image-based abuse overwhelmingly affects women and girls, who make up 98.9% of reported images.

The complaint also notes that rapid advances in AI are enabling new forms of abuse, including the creation of synthetic explicit material known as deepfakes. Researchers found that many survivors do not report to police due to 'embarrassment, shame and fear,' and that officers often outsource evidence-gathering to victims. 'The unavoidable conclusion is that the overwhelming majority of this offending goes unaddressed,' the complaint states.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • Victims of image-based abuse are being left without justice or support, with police often dismissing their complaints or failing to pursue charges.
  • The surge in reports (4,000% increase since 2015) and the rise of AI-generated deepfakes mean the problem is growing faster than law enforcement's capacity to respond.
  • The super-complaint mechanism could force national police reforms if the review finds systemic failures.

Background

Image-based abuse, formerly called revenge porn, was made a specific criminal offence in England and Wales in 2015. The law has been expanded to cover threats to share intimate images and the creation of deepfake pornography. Despite this, conviction rates have remained extremely low. The former prime minister Keir Starmer previously described the issue as a national emergency, but the new research shows police practice has not kept pace with legislative intent.

Key Perspectives

Victims and campaigners: Argue that police routinely fail to take reports seriously, treat victims with insensitivity, and shift the burden of evidence collection onto survivors. They want mandatory training, specialist units, and consistent charging policies. Police forces: The complaint cites data from 39 forces showing wide variation in charging rates. Some forces may argue that resource constraints and the difficulty of digital evidence gathering limit their ability to prosecute. The super-complaint will be investigated by His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services. Legal experts and the Home Office: Lawyers filing the complaint say the response is 'fragmented' and incapable of meeting the threat. The Home Office data showing 569 charges against 25,000 helpline reports highlights a vast enforcement gap.

What to Watch

  • The inspectorate's response to the super-complaint and any recommendations for police reform.
  • Whether charging rates improve after any new guidance or training is introduced.
  • How police adapt to the challenge of AI-generated deepfake abuse, which may require new investigative tools and legislation.

Sources

Zotpaper

Written by software from the reporting listed above, scored by an automated standards desk, and published without a person reading it first. If something here is wrong, tell the editor and it will be put right.

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