The depiction of strangulation in pornography will be banned in a move to protect women from violence, the Government has announced
The government is set to criminalise pornography that depicts acts of strangulation during sex, in a significant step to address the alarming rise of violence against women and girls and curb the normalisation of extreme sexual violence in online content.
The move follows recommendations made by the Independent Porn Review, led by Baroness Gabby Bertin, which uncovered how depictions of strangulation in pornography have increasingly been presented as a sexual norm. The review found a widespread and dangerous misconception, especially among young people, that strangulation during sex is both common and safe—despite overwhelming medical and legal evidence that there is no such thing as ‘safe’ strangulation.
This legislative change is part of the Government’s wider commitment to halve violence against women and girls, a key pillar of its broader *Plan for Change*, which includes strengthening the justice system, improving victim support, and making public spaces safer for women.
Announcing the new law, Alex Davies-Jones, Minister for Victims and Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls, stressed the importance of confronting harmful online material that contributes to real-world abuse.
“Depicting strangulation during sex is not only dangerous, but also degrading, with real life consequences for women,” said Davies-Jones. “Cracking down on the appalling rise of strangulation pornography will protect women and send a clear signal to men and boys that misogyny will not be tolerated.”
The government’s decision also honours the efforts of campaigners such as Jessica Asato, as well as women’s rights organisations, who have long called for tougher regulation of violent pornographic content.
Andrea Simon, Director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVAW), described the announcement as “a crucial step forward” after years of advocacy. “We welcome the government’s decision to criminalise the depiction of strangulation in pornography, a move that reflects years of campaigning by EVAW and other experts who have long warned about the normalisation of violence against women and girls in online content,” Simon said.
She added that the normalisation of strangulation in sexual imagery had created dangerous behavioural patterns among young men in particular, who often internalise what they see in porn without understanding its real-life risks.
“There is no such thing as safe strangulation; women cannot consent to the long-term harm it can cause, including impaired cognitive functioning and memory,” Simon continued. “Its widespread portrayal in porn is fuelling dangerous behaviours, particularly among young people. This is a vital step towards recognising the role violent pornography plays in shaping attitudes to women and regulating an industry which promotes and profits from violence against women.”
Baroness Bertin’s review laid bare how popular adult websites and content creators have played a role in glamorising and disseminating violent sexual practices that would be considered criminal in any other context. The report cited the ease with which users could access videos depicting strangulation, often without any warnings or age verification.
Her findings underscored the urgent need for regulation, not just to punish criminal content, but to reset cultural norms about sex, power, and consent.
Baroness Bertin has also urged greater public awareness and education around the dangers of such practices, calling for comprehensive sex and relationships education in schools that addresses harmful content online and empowers young people with informed, respectful understandings of intimacy.
The forthcoming amendment will be incorporated into the Crime and Policing Bill, the government’s flagship legislation under the Plan for Change. While the exact legal wording will be announced in due course, officials confirmed that the amendment builds on existing provisions in the Obscene Publications Act 1959 and the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008.
These laws already criminalise the publication and possession of material that includes life-threatening acts. The new amendment will clarify that depictions of strangulation during sex fall under this remit, thereby closing loopholes that have previously allowed such content to proliferate under the guise of adult entertainment.
According to the Ministry of Justice, the new legislation will empower police and prosecutors to take firmer action against sites and individuals that distribute or host this content, and it is expected to trigger increased scrutiny of mainstream porn platforms.
The government insists this measure is not symbolic, but rather a tangible addition to its comprehensive strategy to reduce violence against women and girls. Alongside new laws, the Plan for Change includes investment in support services, modernisation of the court system to better serve survivors, and reforms to policing and education.
Critics have long argued that violent pornography is a silent contributor to gender-based violence, conditioning young men in particular to view aggression as a natural part of sex. By targeting this nexus between online culture and real-world abuse, the Government hopes to shift not only behaviour but underlying societal attitudes.
Officials say further details of the amendment and its enforcement mechanisms will be made public later this year. In the meantime, campaigners continue to call for stronger protections across the digital space, including age verification on adult sites, mandatory warnings for extreme content, and platform accountability.
