UK revenge porn helpline ‘to close’ in March due to government cuts, says Labour MP

It offers support to men and women who have had explicit images or videos of them shared without consent

More than 200 people were prosecuted for disclosing private sexual images without consent in the year 2015-16 (PA)

The UK's revenge porn helpline is set to close next month, according to Labour MP Sarah Champion.

The helpline, which launched in February 2015, offers support to men and women affected by revenge porn, where explicit images or videos of them have been shared without their consent.

Speaking in the House of Commons today, Ms Champion, the Labour MP for Rotherham, asked why the government was cutting funding for the helpline.

“Some 20% of 13- to 21-year-olds have had unwanted pornographic images sent to them, and 5% of them have had indecent images shared without their consent,” she said.

“Why is the government cutting the funding to the revenge porn helpline … and how will you ensure that the victims have access to bespoke support, when you are shutting the only helpline in March?”

Minister for women and equalities Justine Greening responded by saying that no announcement had yet been made.

According to the Guardian, the revenge porn helpline has been in talks with the government over funding “for months”, but has “failed to receive any commitment of support”.

Over 200 people were prosecuted for disclosing private sexual images without consent in the year 2015-16, after new laws to tackle revenge porn were introduced.

When the revenge porn helpline was launched, then equalities minister Nicky Morgan said, “I want to ensure that anyone who finds that they have had images of themselves shared without their consent has the support and advice that they need.

“This helpline will provide essential free legal advice on how to have pictures removed from the internet.”