Shockingly Low 'Revenge Porn' Charge Rate in West Midlands Revealed
New data has exposed a shockingly low prosecution rate for so-called 'revenge porn' offences in the West Midlands region. According to figures obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, West Midlands Police investigated hundreds of reports of intimate image abuse during the last six months of 2025, but only a tiny fraction resulted in criminal charges.
Alarming Statistics on Intimate Image Abuse
The police force received 531 reports of alleged revenge porn incidents between June 31, 2005 and January 1, 2026. Despite this significant number of complaints, only six cases led to a charge or summons being issued. This represents a prosecution rate of just 1.1%, highlighting serious challenges in bringing perpetrators to justice.
An additional four adults accepted cautions during this period. While cautions don't constitute criminal convictions, they can be cited as evidence if the individual faces prosecution for other offences in the future.
Legal Framework and Offence Categories
Under current legislation, it is illegal to share or threaten to share private sexual photos or videos without consent. This prohibition covers various methods of distribution, including uploading images online, sending them via text or email, or showing them to someone either physically or electronically.
Of the 531 total reports, West Midlands Police recorded nearly 350 alleged offences specifically involving the sharing of intimate photographs or films with the intent to cause alarm, distress, or humiliation, or for sexual gratification. There were also more than 50 reports of sharing intimate images without the subject's consent.
Evidential Challenges and Victim Support Issues
The data reveals significant evidential difficulties that prevented further action in many cases. In 147 alleged offences where a named suspect was identified, police cited evidential problems as the primary reason for not pursuing charges. In many instances, these difficulties stemmed from a lack of victim support for prosecution.
In another 100 alleged offences, victims did support criminal proceedings, but evidential challenges still proved insurmountable, leading to cases being dropped. These statistics underscore the substantial gap between reports being made and cases actually reaching prosecution.
High-Profile Case Context
The issue of revenge porn gained national attention through high-profile cases like that of reality TV star Georgia Harrison. Harrison waived her anonymity after becoming a victim and was later awarded an MBE for her advocacy work on online privacy and cyber crime awareness.
Her ex-partner Stephen Bear was convicted in 2023 for voyeurism and disclosing private sexual images with intent to cause distress. He served ten-and-a-half months of a 21-month sentence, demonstrating that successful prosecutions are possible despite the overall low charge rates.
The stark contrast between the volume of reports and the minimal number of charges raises serious questions about the effectiveness of current approaches to combating intimate image abuse in the West Midlands region.
