News & Campaigns

All the latest from HER-itage and our affiliates

ASA rules against self-swab ‘rape kits’ – Victims’ Commissioner

The Victims’ Commissioner has consistently raised concerns with Government and partners about the risks posed by unregulated self‑swabbing kits and has pressed for action to ensure victims receive clear, accurate information and access to safe, regulated support.

The Victims’ Commissioner has responded to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) ruling which banned adverts for self‑swabbing DNA kits marketed to victims and survivors of rape and sexual assault.

The ASA found that claims made about the admissibility of evidence gathered using self‑swabbing kits, as well as statements about the prevalence of rape, were misleading and could not be substantiated. The ASA ruled that the ads must not appear again in their current forms.

The Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales, Claire Waxman OBE said: “This ruling reinforces longstanding concerns raised by policing, forensic experts and specialist services about the risks of unregulated self‑swabbing kits being marketed to victims and survivors.

“Victims deserve clear, accurate information at an incredibly vulnerable time. Any suggestion that these kits can reliably secure justice risks giving false hope and may ultimately undermine investigations, safeguarding and wellbeing.  

“Any product marketed to victims must meet the highest evidential and safeguarding standards. Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) remain the safest and most effective option for victims and survivors, providing medical care, specialist support and the best chance of preserving forensic evidence where someone chooses to report.”

The Victims’ Commissioner has consistently raised concerns with Government and partners about the risks posed by unregulated self‑swabbing kits and has pressed for action to ensure victims receive clear, accurate information and access to safe, regulated support.

The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), National Centre for Violence against Women and Girls and Public Protection (NCVPP) previously warned against their use in a joint statement at the end of March. This was welcomed by the Victims’ Commissioner, Rape Crisis and others.

In September 2024, the Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine (FFLM), alongside clinicians and forensic experts, published a joint position statement advising against the use of forensic self‑swabbing or self‑sampling kits after sexual assault or rape when used outside regulated environments. The statement warned of risks to safeguarding, forensic integrity, evidential continuity and the potential to give survivors false expectations about how evidence may be used.

A subsequent positional statement by the Association of Forensic Science Providers’ Body Fluid Forum endorsed the FFLM position and set out additional forensic science concerns.

Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) provide free, specialist support to victims and survivors of rape and sexual assault, including medical care, safeguarding, emotional support and the option to preserve forensic evidence, whether or not someone chooses to report to the police.

In her March 2026 statement, the Victims’ Commissioner emphasised that the existence of a market for self‑swabbing kits highlighted deeper failings in the criminal justice system, and the urgent need to rebuild trust so that victims feel confident accessing statutory services.

https://victimscommissioner.org.uk/news/asa-rules-against-self-swab-rape-kits/

 

May 21, 2026

We’ve intercepted 70 million people attempting to access sexual images of children with online warnings – Lucy Faithful Foundation

What if every time someone tried to access sexual images of children on the internet, they encountered a message designed to stop them from doing so?

We’ve partnered with online tech companies such as Google, Mega, Meta, and TikTok to implement warning messages on the world’s largest online platforms. Today we’re proud to launch our Impact Report for Project Intercept, which showcases what we’ve achieved. Over the past two years, warning messages on online platforms have been triggered more than 70 million times by users seeking sexual images of children online – more than 95,000 per day.

Almost 700,000 people who triggered the warnings clicked through for help to change their behaviour

These are sobering figures. Yet, viewed through a preventative lens, it is a significant success story – 70 million attempts to cause harm have been intercepted, and each user has been offered support to change their behaviour through our Stop It Now website, self-help modules, and anonymous helpline. That offer has been taken up almost 700,000 times, and where it has been, there has been strong engagement with our online self-help resources.

The warnings are triggered when people use search terms that indicate they are looking for sexual images of children (known as child sexual abuse material, or CSAM), or click links that have previously been reported as containing sexual images of children. Each month, an average of 28,000 users are redirected to the Stop It Now self-help resources.

Prevention is possible, so let’s scale warning messages on every online platform

As tens of millions of people have been reached through just 22 active warning messages, it’s clear that the potential to scale up is enormous. By placing more warnings across more online spaces, we can disrupt online child sexual abuse at the moment it’s happening and prevent countless children from being harmed.

Ben* sought support from the Stop It Now self-help modules after his searches on a pornography website triggered a warning message. “After I got the warning, I had a look around on Stop It Now”, he says. “I found the modules on addiction and pornography very helpful. About two months ago I gave up adult sites. I want to keep my mind occupied and more productive.”

This has never been more urgent, particularly as new AI technologies accelerate the spread of online child sexual abuse. Through Stop It Now, we hear every day from people who are concerned about the direction of their online behaviour, but who struggle to change without support.

We’re urging tech companies to partner with us to implement warning messages

OpenAI, Meta, TikTok, Mega, Stability AI, Civitai, BT, MovieStarPlanet, Bing, Google, Aylo, and OnlyFans are among the tech companies who have deployed warning messages. Our 22 warnings have been triggered by people in 131 different countries, and they are active in a range of sectors including file-sharing, search, social media, dating, pornography platforms, and even end-to-end encrypted and AI chatbot spaces.

Our partners don’t simply block harmful content; they offer a clear pathway to support and behaviour change.

Join us at our impact webinar

On 3 June 2026 we’re hosting a lunchtime webinar with Google and our funder Nominet with a Q&A panel to explore the findings in the report and discuss the possibilities of warning messages for deterrence in more detail.

What began as a question – can we interrupt harmful behaviour at the point of risk? – has resulted in a growing body of evidence, partnerships and real-world implementation. Find out more about Project Intercept here and start the conversation at intercept@lucyfaithfull.org.uk

*name altered for anonymity.

Part of a longer press release at https://www.lucyfaithfull.org.uk/weve-intercepted-70-million-people-attempting-to-access-sexual-images-of-children-with-online-warnings/

 

May 21, 2026

Ofcom Statement: Detecting intimate image abuse

Ofcom is publishing a statement that sets out new measures to be included in the Illegal Content Codes of Practice to tackle intimate image abuse online. This statement sets out our decision to recommend that certain service providers should use ‘hash matching’ technology to detect intimate image abuse and reduce its spread online.

The Act created offences of sharing or threatening to share intimate images without consent (‘intimate image abuse’). Intimate image abuse has profound negative psychological, emotional, professional and relational impacts on survivors and victims, compounded by the challenges they face in getting content removed, and the fear it might resurface online. Intimate image abuse is a widespread harm, evidence suggests it is increasing in prevalence, and the proliferation of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is causing a further increase. Reflecting the gravity of this development, Parliament has decided to make it an offence to make or supply AI tools that can be used to create intimate images.

Some service providers already use hash matching to tackle intimate image abuse, and the evidence suggests that it is an effective tool for detecting intimate images that have been shared without consent. More widespread use of hash matching can help reduce the volume of intimate image abuse being shared and viewed online.

In June 2025, we consulted on a number of additional safety measures, including a recommendation that certain service providers use hash matching technology to detect intimate image abuse. After careful consideration of the stakeholder feedback, we have decided to confirm this recommendation ahead of the other additional safety measures proposed in the June 2025 consultation. In recommending this measure, our aim is that service providers use a hash database that is equivalent to or better than the leading third-party database, StopNCII.org, which will materially reduce the prevalence of intimate image abuse on their services.

Full details at https://www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/illegal-and-harmful-content/statement-detecting-intimate-image-abuse

May 21, 2026

IOPC discussion groups aim to improve police response to VAWG

Domestic abuse support groups and women’s charities are sharing experiences of women and girls who have suffered physical and sexual violence in a series of events aimed at improving the police response to survivors.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is bringing the groups face-to-face with policing leads for violence against women and girls (VAWG) at regional events across England and Wales.

The events follow extensive IOPC engagement with more than 100 VAWG organisations, academics and activists who have disclosed survivors’ experiences of how police have dealt with their cases and any related use of the police complaints system.

IOPC Director and VAWG lead Amanda Rowe, said: “We have listened to stories of those who have been failed by the police or other agencies, and the impact it’s had on survivors.

“Our engagement has revealed key themes, barriers, patterns and trends from across the VAWG sector, plus suggestions for change to the wider police complaints system. We have also heard examples of good practice which are important to share.

“These events encourage the sharing of experiences and learning to help police forces better understand how policies play out in real life. They also give police forces a chance to share any improvements they have made directly with VAWG support services.”

The IOPC’s engagement work with VAWG groups identified recurring themes in police handling of cases involving women and girls with mental health, addiction or other vulnerabilities.

One charity said a big concern was a lack of empathy by police towards women in the street homeless community who had reported a VAWG offence, with unhealthy stereotypes of ‘lifestyle choice’ clouding police judgment.

Many of the groups and individuals said there was need for improved cultural competency in policing to make trauma-informed decisions and interactions, and to avoid victim-blaming language.

“We heard one case,” added Ms Rowe, “where a victim-survivor was asked to provide evidence, and witness names and contact details, three times by the officer in charge of the case. It was distressing and retraumatising to keep repeatedly providing this information.

“But it was also encouraging to hear examples of good practice. One initiative has seen an officer become a single point of contact for a women’s group to improve confidence among service users, listen to concerns or reports, and take action. Another force has created a Women in Policing Association, which supports confidential reporting for women to speak up if they have witnessed or been victim of sexual behaviour in the workplace.

“The discussion groups I took part in were focused on constructive discussion and what third sector groups and the police can do to work more closely together and improve the experience for service users.

“We hope the events and conversations will drive meaningful improvements that reflect the needs of victims and survivors and lead to better, sustained engagement between policing and non-policing VAWG partners.”

The first IOPC VAWG events were held in April for Kent, Cheshire, Merseyside and Greater Manchester police force areas. Others will follow later this year in the North East, Midlands, Wales and South East England.

The IOPC is also holding a series of online workshops for complaint handlers in police forces and local policing bodies to share learning on the handling of VAWG issues. The workshops, which complement the engagement events, will convene policing stakeholders to share best practice, encourage peer learning and improve consistency. There are seven online workshops running until July this year.

https://policeprofessional.com/news/iopc-discussion-groups-aim-to-improve-police-response-to-vawg/

 

May 21, 2026

Suicide remains leading maternal death cause – Parliamentary Briefing

Parliamentary briefing highlights gaps in perinatal mental health care across England, raising concerns for mothers. 

Suicide remains the leading cause of maternal death in the year after childbirth, according to a new parliamentary briefing.

The report, published by the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) and co-founded by the British Psychological Society, estimates around 130,000 women each year experience mental health problems during pregnancy or within a year of giving birth.

130,000 women roughly equates to one in four.

Researchers warn that without urgent support, mental health problems can disrupt mother-infant bonding and increase the risk of emotional, behavioural and cognitive difficulties in children that may persist into adolescence.

According to the findings, suicide is the leading cause of death between six weeks and one year after pregnancy. Between 2021 and 2023, one in three women who died from mental health-related causes had received the recommended care, suggesting existing systems are not sufficient.

The financial cost is also high. Untreated perinatal mental health problems are estimated to cost the UK £8.1bn each year. Researchers say that investing £124m annually in training health visitors and midwives could bring nearly £500m in benefits over ten years.

Access to care remains something of a lottery. Specialist perinatal mental health services are considered world leading, but they mainly focus on women with moderate to severe needs. An estimated 115,000 women with mild to moderate systems fall into a gap, despite still requiring support.

The research also points to clear inequalities. Black women and those from minority ethnic backgrounds are less likely to be asked about their mental health or to receive support. What’s more, women living in more deprived are less likely to experience these problems than those in wealthier areas.

The government’s Women’s Health Strategy, updated in April 2026, includes a £200m investment in the Healthy Babies Programme and Best Start Family Hubs. However, researchers and charities say staff shortages remain a major issue, with the number of health visitors falling by 21% since 2016.

‘Fear of judgement deters many women from disclosing mental health problems,’ the report notes, with an estimated 70% hiding their struggles. Without changes to funding, workforce capacity and continuity of care, experts say thousands of mothers and babies will continue to fall through the cracks.

The full report can be read here.

https://socialcare.today/2026/04/23/suicide-remains-leading-maternal-death-cause-report-warns/

May 13, 2026