Revenge porn crimes peaked last year in Hertfordshire, figures have revealed.

Hertfordshire Constabulary recorded 95 offences in 2021, up from 70 in 2020.

However, data has revealed that nearly two in five revenge porn cases reported to Herts police are dropped by victims despite a suspect being identified.

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Sophie Mortimer, manager of the Revenge Porn Helpline, a dedicated service helping adult victims, said a key reason behind victims dropping revenge porn cases is that their anonymity is not guaranteed.

She said: "Although media outlets rarely name victims, the possibility of being outed in their local communities is too much to contemplate.

“Victims of intimate image abuse are feeling incredibly exposed, violated and humiliated and the prospect of a potentially bruising criminal justice process that may drag on for months just isn’t acceptable."

Figures obtained through a Freedom of Information request by data journalism agency RADAR reveal Hertfordshire Constabulary recorded 372 revenge porn crimes between April 2015 and the end of 2021.

Of those, at least 139 (37.4%) were closed because the alleged victim did not support further police action, despite a suspect being identified.

A further 31 (8.3%) with no clear suspect were also dropped by victims, meaning at least 45.7% saw complainants withdraw their support for investigation over nearly seven years.

In Hertfordshire 8.3% of revenge porn crimes resulted in a suspect being charged or summoned to court between 2015 and 2021.

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The offence of disclosing private sexual photographs and films with intent to cause distress – so-called "revenge porn" – came into force in April 2015 and carries a maximum sentence of two years' imprisonment in England and Wales.

It was extended in June 2021 to include threats to share intimate images, following months of campaigning spearheaded by domestic abuse charity Refuge.

Detective chief inspector Hannah Treadwell, of the Hertfordshire Constabulary’s domestic abuse investigation and safeguarding unit, said they take this crime very seriously.  

She said: “You will be treated in a sensitive manner and supported by officers through the criminal justice process.

“Reasons for victims withdrawing support are complex, however the force monitors these reasons with a view to better supporting victims or improving our processes.”

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