More than 150 cyber-flashing offences recorded in Hampshire since it became a specific crime
More than 150 cyber-flashing offences have been recorded in Hampshire since it became a specific crime, recent figures show.
Cyber-flashing is when someone sends a photo or video of genitals to another person to scare, upset or humiliate them. It became a specific criminal offence in January last year under the Online Safety Act.
The End Violence Against Women Coalition – a group of women's support services, researchers, activists, survivors and charities – said the reported crimes reflect growing awareness around the offence but warned "much more is needed" beyond criminalisation.
Figures from the Home Office focusing on crimes which primarily target women and girls show there have been 169 cyber-flashing offences recorded by Hampshire Constabulary up to June this year. Across England and Wales, some 3,961 cyber-flashing offences have been recorded by police.
Although cyber-flashing is a selected violence against women and girls offence, the figures include crimes against all genders. Other VAWG offences introduced under the Online Safety Act include sending communication threatening death or serious harm and sending false communication with intent to cause harm.
In Hampshire, 1,688 threatening communication offences and 601 false communication offences have been recorded by police since January last year.
A Government spokesperson said: "New offences under the Online Safety Act mean online abusers can now rightly be prosecuted for behaviour that has gone unchallenged for too long.
"We've strengthened the act so platforms will need to proactively prevent users from seeing cyber-flashing and strangulation content.
"We've also introduced world-leading laws so that AI models cannot be misused to create child sexual abuse material.
"Platforms should no longer wait for content to be reported, they must take steps to protect people from harm."