Asked by: Maria Miller (Conservative - Basingstoke)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when the Law Commission plans to publish its report on Taking, Making and Sharing intimate images without consent; and what the Government's timescale is for taking forward the recommendations of that report.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
Activities involving the taking and sharing of intimate images are captured by existing offences, for example those tackling revenge pornography, voyeurism, harassment, malicious communications, blackmail, and coercive or controlling behaviour.
To strengthen further the law in this area, the Government recently announced that the “revenge porn” offence will be extended to capture those who threaten to disclose such material. Provisions to extend the parameters of the offence in this manner were introduced in the Domestic Abuse Act.
The provisions will come into force two months after Royal Assent: on 29 June this year.
However, the Government recognises that there is concern over the growth of new technology and the impact on the law in this area.
We have asked the Law Commission to review the law in this area to ensure victims are properly protected. The Law Commission published a public consultation to this review on 26 February this year.
The consultation period ended on 27 May and I understand the Law Commission intends to publish its findings by Spring 2022.
The Government awaits the Law Commission’s findings with interest and shall consider them carefully.
Asked by: Maria Miller (Conservative - Basingstoke)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
What plans he has to ensure that courts are able to respond to increases in domestic abuse cases (a) during and (b) after the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Alex Chalk - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
Domestic abuse cases are amongst the highest priority work being dealt with by the courts. Domestic Violence Protection Orders and Non-Molestation orders have been placed in the highest category of work in the magistrates’ and family courts, and they continue to be listed for urgent hearings despite the current restrictions.
The magistrates’ courts have been focusing on cases where the defendant is being held in custody, but their work is now being extended to include bail cases where there is a vulnerable victim, such as domestic abuse cases, and these cases are being reviewed by the judiciary.
Domestic abuse cases will continue to be afforded a higher priority as social distancing restrictions are eased after the Covid-19 outbreak.