Sexual Violence & Abuse (including Revenge Porn)
What is Sexual Violence?
Sexual violence refers to any sexual activity where consent is not obtained or freely given.
It can include physical acts, such as unwanted touching and rape, and non – physical contact between the victim and the offender; for example, sexual harassment, threats, and indecent exposure, sexual teasing or innuendos, sexual photography, subjection to pornography or witnessing sexual acts and sexual assault to which the person has not consented or where they were pressured into consenting. It can also includes child sexual exploitation.
There are many organisations that can offer help and support, it can be difficult to know who to turn to, we will listen and be guided by you, at your own pace, giving all the relevant information that will assist you, in choosing the best support for your needs.
Download Our PDF Factsheet
Revenge Porn
Revenge Porn is Image based sexual abuse and is a criminal offence.
Revenge Porn is the sharing of private, sexual materials, either photos or videos, of another person without their consent and with the purpose of causing embarrassment or distress. The images could sometimes be accompanied by personal information about the victim, including their full name, address and links to their social media profiles.
The offence applies whether it’s online or offline, and to images shared electronically or in a more traditional way; so it includes the uploading of images on the internet, sharing by text and e-mail, or showing someone a physical or electronic image. Images may also be posted on social media or blogs, dating sites, porn sites or websites which have been deliberately set up to host this content.
If you are a victim of this type of crime, whether historically or currently, and you need advice, information or support, please get in touch.
Contacting Us
If you report a crime to Staffordshire Police, they will ask you if you are happy for your details to be passed on to the Staffordshire Victim Gateway and Restorative Justice Service. We will automatically receive your contact information and a brief overview of your experience and the crime, if you don’t specify to Staffordshire Police that you don’t want us to make contact with you. If you initially opted out of the service, you can self-refer at any time.
We can provide you with advice, information & emotional and practical support. We can liaise and advocate on your behalf, and introduce and support you to specialist services, who can help you gain the relevant support that can help in your recovery. We will be with you every step of the way. Our support is free and confidential, regardless of whether you have reported a crime or incident to the police, we are here to support you.
Crime Prevention Information
Additionally, it may also be useful for you to have advice on crime prevention that may help you to protect yourself in the future. You can find lots of useful information on local crime prevention by clicking here:
https://www.staffordshire.police.uk/cp/crime-prevention/