Advice for children and young people:
If you have been pressured into sending sexual images or videos online and you have been threatened as a result, this is blackmail and you are not to blame. Remove yourself from the conversation, do not respond further and get help and support by reporting to the CEOP Safety Centre at www.ceop.police.uk/safety-centre
If someone has shared a nude or sexual image or video of you without your consent, you can make a report to Report Remove at www.childline.org.uk/remove and they will help to remove it from the internet.
Talking to someone about what has happened can really help. If you don’t feel able to speak to an adult you trust, you can speak to a counsellor at Childline by calling 0800 1111.
Online blackmail advice for young people aged 11 to 18 can be found at www.ceopeducation.co.uk/11_18/lets-talk-about/sexual-abuse/online-blackmail/
If you’re a teenager worried about your own or a friend’s sexual behaviour, Shore can give you anonymous advice and information: https://shorespace.org.uk/
Advice for adult victims of blackmail:
Report to your local police force, who will deal with your report in confidence and will not judge you; don’t communicate further with the offender. If you can take screenshots, suspend your account (but don’t delete it) and also make use of any online reporting options via the platform the communication took place. If possible make a note of all the details provided by the offender and do not delete any correspondence.
Victim Support can be contacted via www.victimsupport.org.uk or on 08 08 16 89 111. The website has live chat and British Sign Language contact methods.
If you are concerned about your safety online, please visit www.getsafeonline.org or call the Samaritans on 116 123 for confidential support.
Additional support services:
The Lucy Faithfull Foundation’s anonymous Stop It Now helpline gives advice and information to anyone concerned about their own or someone else’s sexual thoughts or behaviour towards children: call 0808 1000 900 or visit https://www.stopitnow.org.uk/
Papyrus provide confidential advice and support and works to prevent young suicide in the UK. Call 0800 068 4141.
The Revenge Porn Helpline supports adults in the UK who have had intimate images shared without their consent. For further information, see our website revengepornhelpline.org.uk or email us on help@revengepornhelpline.org.uk
