Petition · past parliament

Make sending sexual photo/film with or WITHOUT intent to cause distress illegal

Closed 17 signatures

What the petition asks

Section 33 of Criminal Justice and Court Act 2015
1)It is an offence for a person to disclose a private sexual photograph or film if the disclosure is made
(a)without the consent of an individual who appears in the photograph or film, and
(b)with the intention of causing that individual distress.
In section (8) the law says: "A person charged with an offence under this section is not to be taken to have disclosed a photograph or film with the intention of causing distress merely because that was a natural and probable consequence of the disclosure"

This law creates a loophole for criminals who did not consider their victim's reaction or the probable consequences of disclosure. The law needs to be reworded to 'with or without intent to cause distress' as the victim suffers despite intent

Timeline

14 Feb 2018 Petition opened for signatures
14 Aug 2018 Closed to new signatures

Key facts

Signatures 17
Status Closed
Opened 14 Feb 2018
Closed 14 Aug 2018

Follow this petition

Sign in to get an email when the government responds, a debate is scheduled or held, or the petition closes.

Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.