Victims of intimate image abuse are expressing frustration over the lack of justice as the number of cases continues to rise, with offenders avoiding consequences. Data analysis shows a significant 26.9% increase in reported incidents of abuse between July 2021 and June 2025, jumping from 4,058 offenses to 5,151.
Approximately 15 offenses were reported daily in the past year alone. However, statistics obtained through Freedom of Information requests by the charity Refuge indicate a decline in the proportion of cases resulting in charges or summons, dropping from 5.8% in 2021/22 to 4.5% in 2024/25.
Despite authorities having knowledge of the suspects’ identities, only 4.8% (1,047) of the 21,905 reported offenses over the five-year span led to charges or summons. Shockingly, 56% (12,265) of cases saw no charges filed at all. Moreover, 25% (5,417) of all offenses did not progress due to evidential challenges.
On the fifth anniversary of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, Sharon Gaffka, a Refuge ambassador and former Love Island contestant at 30, emphasized the severe impact of intimate image abuse on women and girls. Gaffka urged for increased accountability for perpetrators, citing the concerning lack of consequences despite the surge in reports.
Refuge’s Emma Pickering echoed the sentiment, stating that survivors of intimate image abuse are frequently let down five years after the implementation of the Domestic Abuse Act. Highlighting the disparity between the high number of reports and the low charge rates, Pickering emphasized the need for enhanced police responses to ensure justice for survivors and accountability for offenders.
The Domestic Abuse Act, enacted on April 29, 2021, following Refuge’s successful campaign, The Naked Threat, aimed at criminalizing threats to share intimate images. A government spokesperson assured immediate action to address the escalating issue, including upcoming legal requirements for tech companies to promptly remove non-consensually shared intimate images and the establishment of the Policing AI Threat Hub to combat AI misuse in criminal activities.
