Intimate image abuse is a violation of privacy and people who have been targeted often feel humiliated, angry or depressed.
You might feel too ashamed or embarrassed to report the crime to the police, but if you’ve experienced image-based sexual abuse it’s important to remember that you’re not to blame – only the offender is responsible for this crime taking place. Support and reporting options are available.
- Are you in immediate danger or need urgent medical help? If you are in immediate danger or have been seriously injured, call the emergency services on 999 (or 112 from a mobile phone). Report and Support is not an emergency reporting tool.
- Contact NCI - Stop Non-Consensual Intimate Image Abuse who offer a free tool designed to support victims of non-consensual intimate image abuse, helping to detect and remove the images from being shared online.
- You do not have to decide what to do immediately. You can access support without making a formal report, see the Get Support section below for more information.
Intimate image abuse is a term which can include the following:
Intimate image abuse, also referred to as ' revenge porn' involves sharing, or threatening to share, intimate images of someone without their consent. It can happen on or offline, and can happen alongside other incidents such as bullying or harassment.
Sextortion/Webcam Blackmail - when someone uses, or threatens, to use sexual images, videos or recordings to pressure someone in to sending money or other items of worth such as vouchers, providing more images or doing something they do not want to do.
Cyber-Flashing - sending an unwanted sexual image or video, including images of genitals, to someone without their consent. Further information is available via Rape Crisis.
Voyeurism - Voyeurism is secretly taking photos, watching or recording others in private activities such as getting undressed or sexual acts without their consent, usually for sexual pleasure.
Upskirting - recording or intending to record under someone's clothes without their consent, and often takes places in crowded areas. Usually done to cause humiliation or for sexual pleasure.
Deepfake - AI - generated or digitally manipulated images, audio or videos that make it appear someone did or said something they did not. Sexual deepfakes may show a person in explicit imagery without their consent.
Cyber stalking - Cyber and digital stalking is using the Internet, email or other electronic communications to stalk someone. They may occur as part of a wider stalking campaign or may be conducted entirely electronically. You can access help through Victim Support and The Cyber Helpline with their Cyber stalking Clinic.
Find out more information and how to protect yourself on the National Crime Agency website.
- Seek medical care. Contact NHS 111, your GP or A&E, depending on the urgency.
- Tell someone you trust. This could be a friend, family member, member of staff or University support service. You do not have to deal with it alone.
- You do not have to decide what to do immediately. You can access support without making a formal report, see the Get Support section below for more information.
- Consider reporting when you feel ready. You can report to the University, the police, a platform where content has been shared, or anonymously. You can also access support without making a formal report. In some circumstances, the nature of an incident may affect if it can be investigated.
- Keep any information or evidence, if it is safe and you feel comfortable doing so. This could include screenshots, messages, photographs of injuries or details of witnesses. Do not put yourself at risk to collect evidence.
- Look after your wellbeing. You may feel shocked, frightened, angry, numb or unsure how you feel. These are all understandable responses.
- Specialist Wellbeing Team During office hours, the Specialist Wellbeing Team provide practical support and advice to anyone who has experienced an incident and would like support. Support is available at both Medway and Canterbury campuses. You can book an appointment with the Specialist Wellbeing Team by emailing KentSSW@kent.ac.uk, or by calling 01227 823158 from Monday to Friday 9.00 am to 5.00 pm
- Revenge Porn Helpline can help those who have had Intimate images shared without consent, Threats to share intimate images, Images recorded without consent (Voyeurism), Webcam blackmail (Sextortion) and upskirting.
- SPITE provides legal support to those who feel they have been a victim of someone sharing and publishing intimate images without their consent.
- Stop Non-Consensual Intimate Image Abuse a free tool designed to support victims of Non-Consensual Intimate Image abuse, helping to detect and remove the images from being shared online.
- SpectrumLife Providing in the moment support online, text or telephone. Call 0800 0318227 and press option 1, or text or Whatsapp 'Hi' to 07418 360780.
- Mental Health and Wellbeing Mental Health Advisers can offer advice and support if an incident has affected your mental health. If you need urgent support, please call 01227 826573 or email KentSSW@kent.ac.uk and ask for an on-the-day appointment.
- Counselling Service Students are able to access support from the University's counselling team within Student Support and Wellbeing. Counselling provides a safe space to address the impact that an incident has had on you. All counsellors are fully qualified members of BACP, BABCP, or UKCP, and adhere to ethical guidelines. Counselling can be accessed by emailing: counselling@kent.ac.uk or by calling 01227 823206.
- Report and Support. Report and Support is the University’s online reporting tool. You can choose to make an anonymous report or request support from an adviser, without immediately starting a formal complaint. The option you choose determines what happens next: anonymous reports help the University understand patterns and concerns, while requesting adviser support allows an adviser to contact you to discuss your options. No formal investigation will be triggered without your consent, but you can still access support.
- University Procedure. If you would like to discuss your options informally before deciding if you want to make a formal complaint to the university, you can do so by submitting a named Report and Support report. Further details can be found on the Student Appeals, Conduct and Complaints page along with the steps and procedures to follow if you choose to make a formal complaint.
- Reporting Anonymously via Crimestoppers. If you are worried about a reporting process, and would prefer to report anonymously, you can report to Crimestoppers. Crimestoppers is an independent charity that enables people to share information about crime anonymously. Crimestoppers will send your report to the relevant local police force. Find out more on the Crimestoppers website.
- Police For non-emergency support dial 101. To find out more about the support available from Kent Police, visit the Kent Police website.
Go to...
I think I have experienced sexual misconduct (students)
What is a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC)?
I think someone I know has experienced sexual misconduct (students)