Non-consensual intimate image abuse (revenge porn): get help and support

In this section:

There are several ways you can take action if someone has shared, or is threatening to share, your intimate images or videos without your permission.

It's worth knowing these services won't contact the police for you. You'll need to make a report to the police separately.

Support for adults aged 18 and over

Revenge Porn Helpline

For advice and help getting the intimate images or videos removed, you can contact the Revenge Porn Helpline.

They will talk to you to understand what your circumstances are. They can then also put you in touch with organisations and charities that can offer you emotional and practical support. For example, this might be a domestic abuse charity.

Their service is:

• available to anyone over 18
• open 10am-4pm, Monday to Friday
• available via phone and email

You can also use their chatbot on their website at any time if you want support, advice and links to helpful websites. If you're making a request for support on behalf of someone else, you'll need to get their permission before requesting support from the Revenge Porn Helpline.

Further information, including how to get in touch is available on the Revenge Porn Helpline’s website.

Other ways you can get help

We understand that you may not want to talk to anyone about what's happened. You may also need help getting the images or videos taken down outside of the Revenge Porn Helpline's opening hours. 

You have a number of options available to you:

Use the StopNCII.org tool  

StopNCII.org, also operated by SWGfL and the Revenge Porn Helpline, is a tool to create a digital hash of intimate content directly from your device to protect the content from being shared to participating partner platforms. A hash is like a digital fingerprint, unique to the image. The hash is created from your device, meaning that the image or video itself is not uploaded and does not leave your device. 

Further guidance on how this works and getting started is available on the StopNCII.org website.

Report directly to the social media company 

Many social media sites have rules against sharing intimate images or videos without your permission. In most circumstances, you should be able to get the material removed by reporting directly to them. They can also provide information on how to block someone who is threatening to share your intimate images or videos.

When reporting to a social media company, it's useful if you know what community guideline has been breached so you can find the right reporting tool. On the Revenge Porn Helpline's website you can find links to the community guidelines for the main social media companies. They also provide information on how to make a report to get images taken down.

Further guidance on how you can report to social media companies is available on the Revenge Porn Helpline's website.

Report directly to the adult sites 

Many adult sites have contact forms you can use if you want to remove intimate images or videos that someone has shared.

The Revenge Porn Helpline has guidance on how you can do this, including examples of what you can say in your message to them. 

They also provide important tips on what you shouldn't do. For example, they advise that you shouldn't provide an adult site with a copy of your passport or driving license, or a photograph of you holding them. This is because it can be difficult to know what the adult site will do with your information. You might be at greater risk of identity theft, sextortion or blackmail. 

Further guidance on how you can report to adult sites is available on the Revenge Porn Helpline's website.

Support for young people and children under 18

Childline

You can use the Childline's Report Remove service to help you get shared intimate images or videos of you when you were under-18 removed.

You can find out more about this service on Childline's website.

YourPolice

If you are under 18 and have questions, need help or support, or would like to report a crime, you can speak to us anonymously and in private at YourPolice.UK on Instagram.

@YourPolice.UK is a safe space with information, advice and help for young people. You can ask or tell us about anything which is concerning or worrying you, 12 hours per day, every day of the week, from 9am to 9pm.

You can access the @YourPolice.UK page on Instagram.

Next: Reporting it to the police