Police Data Exposes Deep Disparities (Image Credits: Unsplash)
Survivors of intimate image abuse in England and Wales continue to face an uphill battle for justice. New data from the charity Refuge reveals that reports of these offenses climbed 26.9% over recent years, yet fewer than 5% resulted in charges against perpetrators. The findings, released on the fifth anniversary of the Domestic Abuse Act, highlight a growing crisis where victims report harms but see little accountability.
Police Data Exposes Deep Disparities
Refuge obtained responses from 25 of 43 police forces through Freedom of Information requests, covering offenses from July 2021 to February 2026. In total, authorities recorded 21,905 such incidents, a sharp increase from earlier periods. Offenses rose from 4,058 in the initial stretch to 5,151 by the end of 2025.
Despite the volume, outcomes remained dismal. Only 1,047 suspects – 4.8% – faced charges or summonses. In 56% of cases, or 12,265 incidents, no one was charged even after police identified a perpetrator. Another quarter stalled due to evidential issues, though victims supported investigations.
Personal Toll on High-Profile Survivor
Refuge ambassador Sharon Gaffka has endured repeated image abuse, including a disturbing variant known as “semen images.” These involve superimposing semen on printed photos of victims, then sharing them online. Gaffka discovered men distributing such images of her on social media, overlaid on clips where she discussed domestic abuse while fully clothed.
She succeeded in shutting down one offending chat but holds little hope for prosecutions. “I don’t believe that those men will ever be prosecuted for what they did to me, and to those images, and how I feel about myself as a result,” Gaffka told reporters. Her experience underscores the emotional devastation that lingers without legal recourse. Refuge’s specialist team has yet to support any survivor whose abuser secured a conviction since the 2021 law expanded to cover threats to share images.
Refuge Demands Systemic Overhaul
Emma Pickering, Refuge’s head of technology-facilitated abuse and economic empowerment, decried the gap between reports and action. “Five years on from the Domestic Abuse Act, survivors of intimate image abuse are being failed far too often,” she stated. The charity points to inconsistent police responses as a core problem, with charging rates dropping from 5.8% in 2021/22 to 4.5% in 2024/25.
Refuge urges mandatory training for officers and criminal justice staff, building on the government’s violence against women and girls strategy. Pickering emphasized that such preparation would match the crime’s gravity. The organization also presses tech platforms to bear responsibility for content harms. “Tech companies must also be held responsible for the harm allowed to persist on their platforms at the expense of women’s safety,” she added.
- Reports rose 26.9% from 2021 to early 2026.
- Only 4.8% of 21,905 cases led to charges.
- 56% saw no charges despite identified suspects.
- No convictions supported by Refuge’s team post-2021 Act.
Government Moves to Tighten Tech Accountability
Legislative momentum is building to address platform failures. The government recently amended the Crime and Policing Bill, introducing criminal liability for tech executives whose firms ignore Ofcom orders to remove non-consensual images. Technology Secretary Liz Kendall affirmed the push: “Too many women have had their lives shattered by having their intimate images shared online without consent.”
Platforms now face a 48-hour deadline to delete reported content, with safeguards against reuploads. Kendall stressed that protection is non-negotiable. “Protecting women and girls online is not optional, it is a responsibility that sits squarely with every tech company’s leadership.” These steps aim to empower safer online spaces, though Refuge insists swift implementation remains essential for real change.
The stark police figures serve as a wake-up call. As intimate image abuse proliferates, bridging the divide between reports and justice will define progress. Survivors like Gaffka deserve responses that deliver accountability, not evasion.
