News

Thursday, June 15th 2023

Public Policy Exchange will be hosting a webinar on Tackling Image-Based Sexual Abuse: Expanding and Improving the Criminal Justice Response to a Growing Problem which will take place on Thursday, June 15th 2023 between 9:30 AM — 1:00 PM.

Confirmed Speakers:

• Dr Tirion Havard, Associate Professor at the Institute of Health and Social Care, London South Bank University
• Jessica Eagelton, Policy and Public Affairs Manager at Refuge
• Zahra Awaiz-Bilal, Senior Associate at Bolt Burdon Kemp LLP
• Fay Maxted OBE, Chief Executive Officer at The Survivors Trust
• Dr Brandon Sparks, Lecturer in Forensic Psychology at Kingston University London
• Claire Bloor, Chief Executive Officer at Somerset & Avon Rape and Sexual Abuse Support (SARSAS)
• Srijani Roy & Sumaya Mohamed, Partnership and Evaluation Worker & Participation and Inclusion Worker at London Black Women’s Project

Programme:

• Analyse existing legislation surrounding image-based sexual abuse and discuss opportunities for further legislative reform
• Discuss the Law Commission’s recommendations for protecting victims of intimate image abuse
• Assess the current state of the Online Safety Bill and Victims Bill and their likely impact in tackling image-based sexual abuse and protecting victims
• Understand and tackle links between image-based sexual abuse and other forms of domestic abuse
• Examine measures to strengthen the response of law enforcement agencies and raise awareness of revenge porn within the police
• Assess the impact of Covid-19 on incidences of image-based sexual abuse and explore strategies to mitigate these effects
• Address anonymity-related issues and ensure victims are able to identify and report crimes easily
• Understand how to support victims of revenge porn, provide legal advice, and streamline access to counselling services
• Scrutinise the role for social media companies and internet service providers in developing robust measures to accelerate the removal of revenge porn
• Investigate the responsibility of media groups in sensitively reporting on revenge porn cases
• Discuss ways in which schools can engage with young people to promote respect, strengthen understanding of consent, and outline the risks associated with sharing intimate material
• Discuss parental awareness of online risks, equipping guardians with the knowledge, skills and confidence to exercise control and protect children online
• Share examples of effective partnership working between local authorities, police, schools and community groups in developing innovative safeguarding solutions

The Australian Institute of Criminology has released a new Trends & issues paper on domestic violence offending by outlaw motorcycle gang (OMCG) members.

• Forty percent of OMCG members in New South Wales had been proceeded against for a domestic violence offence in the last 10 years.
• OMCG members were twice as likely to have been proceeded against for domestic violence offences as the wider male offending population.
• Domestic violence offending by OMCG members was more harmful and charges were less likely to result in a guilty outcome.

Read Outlaw motorcycle gangs and domestic violence