New protections on revenge porn and cross-examination pushed through House of Lords after 6-year fight

Liberal Democrats have welcomed the key protections being introduced today in the landmark Domestic Abuse Bill that would extend the crime of revenge porn to include threats to share intimate images, and widen the ban on cross-examination of survivors of domestic abuse in the civil courts.

Commenting on the amendment outlawing threats to share private sexual images, Liberal Democrats Justice Spokesperson Wera Hobhouse MP said:

"Revenge porn is a despicable form of abuse. The number of people who have received threats from a partner or ex-partner to share intimate images is truly shocking, and the harm it can cause is appalling.

"The Liberal Democrats led the fight to outlaw revenge porn in 2015, and we argued then that the ban should include threats to share images.

"I'm glad we have finally been able to secure this change in the law, which will make a huge difference to the victims whose lives and mental health can be devastated by these threats."

Commenting on the extension of the ban on cross-examination, Liberal Democrats Justice Spokesperson in the Lords Jonathan Marks said:

"Court proceedings can be a distressing and frightening time for survivors of domestic abuse, and the idea that they should have to face their abuser in court is cruel and unfair.

"We welcome the Government amendments to protect domestic abuse victims, tabled following Liberal Democrat amendments at Committee Stage, that will include an automatic ban on the direct cross-examination of witnesses in person and the availability of special protections for witnesses and parties in certain civil cases."