5 top tips for survivors who are interacting with the police about image-based abuse
Interacting with the police can be confusing. You shouldn’t have to deal with this on your own or advocate for yourself, but we know survivors of image-based abuse often do. We understand that personal circumstances and police misconceptions about image-based abuse can make it tricky to access support.
If you can get support, please do. You can contact us at support@notyourporn.com.
Please see below for 5 top tips on interacting with the police:
Seek advice about image-based abuse laws and procedures.
Whether you seek legal advice, advice from organisations, or do your own research, knowing the types of offences that apply to your experience, the statutory time limits, and the requirements for evidence or police procedures can help you advocate for yourself confidently and understand what to expect when interacting with the police.
Record all details of your interactions with the police.
Make note of every police meeting, phone call or development in your case. This helps you challenge decisions if you need to and can also help you seek more specialist advice.
Put everything in writing.
Write down every request you make to the police. If you meet or talk with them in person or by phone, send a follow-up email to confirm what was discussed. This creates a paper trail and makes it easier to take appropriate action, if needed.
Ask the police questions about the process, raise concerns and ask for the adjustments you need to engage in the investigation.
You can ask the police questions about the investigation process, call 101 to escalate/complain about how your case is being handled, raise concerns directly with the investigating officer (such as about lengthy delays), ask for support if you find it difficult to engage, or ask the police for updates. These requests can help you get clarity, raise concerns, and address delays. You have the right to make these requests.
Ask someone to come with you to meetings with the police or to help you talk to them.
You don’t need to navigate this alone. If you have someone you trust who can support you, or you can access professional support, it can help to have someone with you when meeting or talking to the police, and it can make the process easier to manage. Image-based abuse is incredibly traumatic, and it can be difficult to manage the demands of a police investigation when dealing with trauma.
