Woman demands law change after police return intimate video

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 2 Nov, 15:56 · Archive

A Norfolk woman has launched a petition calling for legal safeguards after police returned a phone containing intimate footage to a man she accused of rape.

A Norfolk woman has launched a campaign calling for greater safeguards around intimate footage after police returned a mobile phone containing a recording of her to its owner. Lauren Newby, 32, made an allegation of rape against a man she had met. Suffolk Police seized and examined his phone as part of their investigation, then returned it in July 2025. Police asked the man to delete a recording involving Ms Newby. There is no evidence that the footage has been shared, uploaded, or that the man failed to follow the instruction to delete it.

Ms Newby says the uncertainty over what happened to the recording has caused her considerable distress. She has launched a petition on the UK Parliament website calling for stronger safeguards governing the handling, storage and return of intimate recordings obtained during police investigations. She said: "I cannot undo what has happened to me but I can help stop it happening to someone else." She added that she lives with the daily worry that the man kept the video, watches it, has shown it to others, or uploaded it to the dark web.

How it is being reported

• Woman demands law change after police return phone containing intimate videoNorwich woman Lauren Newby launches petition for safeguards after police officers returned a phone following a rape allegation, asking its owner to delete intimate footage.Eastern Daily Press · 2 Nov, 15:30
• Woman demands law change after police return phone containing intimate videoNorwich woman Lauren Newby launches petition for safeguards after police officers returned a phone following a rape allegation, asking its owner to delete intimate footage.Norwich Evening News · 2 Nov, 15:30

In this story: Lauren Newby · Norfolk · Norwich · Suffolk Police

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