Definition of blackmail in uk law
In the UK, blackmail is a criminal offense that is defined in Section 21 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003. It is also known as "blackmail" or "extortion by threats".
Blackmail is committed when a person makes a demand or request with menaces, with the intention of obtaining a financial or other advantage from another person. The demand or request must be made with the intention of causing the other person to fear that some harm or injury will be done to them or someone else, or that some loss or damage will be caused to their property.
The key elements of blackmail are:
- A demand or request is made by one person (the "blackmailer") to another person (the "victim").
- The demand or request is made with menaces, which means that the blackmailer threatens to do something that would cause harm or injury to the victim or someone else, or damage to their property.
- The blackmailer intends to obtain a financial or other advantage from the victim as a result of the demand or request.
- The victim is put in fear of the threatened harm or injury, or loss or damage to their property.
Examples of blackmail might include:
- A person threatens to reveal a secret about someone's personal life unless they pay them money.
- A person threatens to harm someone's reputation unless they do something they are asked to do.
- A person threatens to damage someone's property unless they pay them a ransom.
Blackmail is a serious offense in the UK, and it can carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. It is also a criminal offense to make a false accusation of blackmail, and to make a false report to the police about an alleged blackmail.
It's worth noting that the UK's laws on blackmail are designed to protect individuals from being coerced or intimidated into doing something they do not want to do, and to prevent the use of threats or violence to obtain an advantage over someone else.