Government announces new offence for encouraging serious self-harm

The Ministry of Justice announced an amendment to the Online Safety Bill on 18 May, which introduces a new offence for encouraging others to cause themselves serious harm. The addition to the bill is designed to target online trolls regardless of whether the perpetrator knows the victim, and regardless of whether or not the victim actually goes on to injure themself. The new offence, which follows a recommendation from the Law Commission in 2021, will see those convicted facing up to five years in prison.