“You could have your intimate images shared with your mum, dad, or best mate”

Hundreds of young people and members of the public have been spoken to with the help of a digivan to raise awareness of our hard-hitting sextortion campaign.

Last week, our officers travelled to different areas of the city to raise as much awareness of the crime as possible to remind people to stay safe and be aware when chatting to people online.

With a digivan playing a video showing exactly what could happen if they fall foul of this crime. Our officers visited Old Market Square, areas popular with students in Lenton, the Royal Centre, and also had a stand at the University of Nottingham to interact with as many people as possible.

They took the time to speak to members of the public, handed out leaflets directing them to advice and guidance, and answered any questions they had.

Sextortion is a type of online blackmail, where criminals threaten to share nude or semi-nude photographs of their victim (often to the victim’s personal contacts on social media) or information about them if money isn’t paid or if the victim fails to comply with some other harmful demand.   

In some cases, criminals pose as ‘young and attractive’ women online and then befriend men, usually in their teens or early 20s, on their social media platforms.    

They will encourage them to send naked pictures or videos of themselves and then use that material against them, threatening to send it to family and friends unless they are paid.    

Last year, we launched an eye-catching campaign, which was recognised nationally, to raise awareness of this devastating crime type and prevent people from becoming victims. 

Our campaign was launched following a steep rise in the number of sextortion reports across our city and county.   

During 2024, the force investigated 403 blackmail cases, 265 of which were sextortion offences.   

Of these sextortion offences, 30 percent are believed to be student victims – equating to 80 people. 

As well as working with the University of Nottingham we’ve also teamed up with the Revenge Porn Helpline to create an educational package to be shared with the uni.

Detective Inspector Chris Berryman, whose team investigates the cases, explained how visiting high footfall areas and teaming up with the uni was key to getting the message across to all ages.

He said: “People we’ve been engaging with realise that it’s not right, and people are making demands to them, but I don’t think they’re realising it’s actually a crime that’s being committed.

“They don’t realise there’s a crime of blackmail being committed where people can make demands for them to pay money or give them vouchers.

“It’s been great with the help of the digivan to get out into areas popular with students and high footfall areas in the city to show people that this crime does exist and to ask them not to be embarrassed but to report it to us.

“Both days our officers spoke to people of all ages and genders to raise the publicity of this crime.

“Our message is simple: if you believe you’ve been a victim of sextortion please report it to us, don’t feel embarrassed, we’re there to help you and support you.”

To find out more about our sextortion campaign and to watch our video, visit Sextortion | Nottinghamshire Police 

To make a report to us you can call 101, make a report online using our website, or in an emergency always dial 999.

For more details about the Revenge Porn Helpline, including other ways to get in touch, visit Revenge Porn Helpline - 0345 6000 459 | Revenge Porn Helpline