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Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Government to ban depictions of choking and suffocation in adult film content
The UK government will ban choking in porn, as Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson says 'there is absolutely no place for violent, misogynistic and harmful content online' Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson has made a firm commitment to outlaw pornography that depicts acts of strangulation and suffocation. The ban will now be implemented through an amendment to the Government's Crime and Policing Bill, which will be introduced by peers after the comprehensive draft legislation successfully passed through the Commons on June 18. In a resolute statement, Dame Diana asserted that: "there is absolutely no place for violent, misogynistic and harmful content online", following calls from multiple MPs to broaden the scope of what constitutes "extreme pornographic images". Conservative former minister Dame Caroline Dinenage had attempted to modify the Bill in the Commons by proposing a new clause, but her efforts were rejected by 310 votes to 114, a majority of 196. Dame Caroline's proposed clause aimed to prohibit images and videos showcasing "an act which affects a person's ability to breathe and constitutes battery of that person". 'Strangling your partner in bed is not safe' During the debate, Dame Caroline urged her fellow MPs to take action, stating: "We need to send a signal that strangling your partner in bed is not safe. It can be a precursor to coercive, abusive behaviour." As chairwoman of the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee, Dame Caroline further highlighted the prevalence of online pornography in the UK, revealing that over 10 million adults access it every month, with the majority being men. While acknowledging individual freedoms, Dame Caroline also pointed to disturbing research findings that show one in 10 children have been exposed to online pornography by the age of nine. "Unfortunately, it is the guide that many young people use to learn about sex, and that is why I'm extremely worried that non-fatal strangulation has been found to be rife on porn sites." Home Affairs Committee chairwoman Dame Karen Bradley, who previously served as culture secretary for the Conservatives, lent her support to the ban, telling the Commons: "This is not impacting on what people may wish to do in their private lives, but it does mean that those images would not then be available to be seen in pornographic films." Help us improve our content by completing the survey below. We'd love to hear from you! She continued, underscoring child protection concerns: "And it means that there's protection for children who may be looking at this pornography. We don't want them to look at it, but we're realists, we recognise this happens, and it would mean that this doesn't normalise something which is a really dangerous act and really should not be being promoted in any way." The push for such a prohibition included Labour MP for Lowestoft Jess Asato, who had proposed a similar ban targeting depictions of "an act of choking, suffocating or strangling another person", though it wasn't brought to a vote. 'There is no place for violent, misogynistic content online' In response, Dame Diana expressed her views firmly: "There is absolutely no place for violent, misogynistic and harmful content online that perpetuates violent views against women and girls and has the effect of doing them great harm." Her stance reflected deep concern over patterns of consumption leading to violent behaviours: "We know that the increasing prevalence of this kind of content outlined in this amendment is fuelling violent sexual encounters." Dame Diana acknowledged some technical shortcomings yet supported the intent behind the amendments: "While there are issues with the drafting for both these new clauses, the Government supports their underlying aim." The commitment to tackle explicit content took a vital step forward as it was announced: "Accordingly, I am pleased to say that we will bring forward amendments in the Lords to criminalise pornography depicting strangulation and suffocation." Should the Bill succeed, it will establish novel respect orders, part of the Government's strategy to clamp down on antisocial behaviour and implement a new obligation for reporting suspected child sex offences to police and councils in England. Dame Diana also highlighted forthcoming plans, revealing: "The new violence against women and girls strategy will set out improvements in the way that we are going to tackle sexual harassment, and that's due to be published before the summer recess." The Bill in question successfully passed through the Commons with a significant majority of 217 votes, tallying at 312 to 95, and is now set for more detailed examination in the House of Lords.
Wales Online
10-06-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
MP urges Government to protect live music venues from new neighbours' complaints
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Housebuilders should face having their plans blocked if they fail to protect live music venues, an MP has suggested. Dame Caroline Dinenage has proposed letting decision-makers take into account existing properties, when they grant or refuse permission for new projects. The Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee chairwoman warned that "live music's in crisis, the Government needs to be listening" as she proposed a new clause to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. Dame Caroline, the Conservative MP for Gosport, told the Commons: "It isn't about venues versus developers. "It's about making sure we have a balance right between building enough good homes and making sure the places we're building keep the things that make life worth living. "In Westminster and our constituencies, everyone agrees that our high streets have been in decline, so it's vitally important that we protect the places that are special to us, our constituents and our communities, the places that provide a platform for our creators and our world-beating creative industries where we can make memories, celebrate and have fun." Dame Caroline called on the Government to let town halls and ministers rule on plans "subject to such conditions that would promote the integration of the proposed development of land with any existing use of land, including such conditions as may be necessary to mitigate the impact of noise on the proposed development". A similar principle already exists in national planning rules, known as the National Planning Policy Framework, to ease pressure on existing businesses which "should not have unreasonable restrictions placed on them as a result" of newer builds. But the Music Venue Trust's annual report last year warned that, in 2023, 22.4% of venues closed as a result of "operational issues", compared with 42.1% of its members reporting "financial issues". The Trust identified noise abatement orders or other neighbour disputes as being among the issues which have resulted in permanent closures. "Consistent application of the 'agent of change' principles will de-risk and speed up planning and development," Dame Caroline told MPs, and added that her proposal was "good for venues" and "good for developers and new neighbours". She said the law change could help authorities stop "expensive and often pointless bun fights" when neighbours complain about noise. She continued: "It'll make sure the needs of an existing cultural venue are considered from the start and it will save developers from late-stage objections and lengthy expensive legal disputes down the line." Dame Caroline said music venues "are the foundation of our world-beating creative industries and also very important for our local communities", and that they had been placed "under threat, including from our disruptive planning system and our onerous licensing regime". The Commons select committee recommended last year that the "agent of change" principle should be put on a statutory footing, to protect grassroots music venues.
South Wales Guardian
10-06-2025
- Business
- South Wales Guardian
MP urges Government to protect live music venues from new neighbours' complaints
Dame Caroline Dinenage has proposed letting decision-makers take into account existing properties, when they grant or refuse permission for new projects. The Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee chairwoman warned that 'live music's in crisis, the Government needs to be listening' as she proposed a new clause to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. Dame Caroline, the Conservative MP for Gosport, told the Commons: 'It isn't about venues versus developers. 'It's about making sure we have a balance right between building enough good homes and making sure the places we're building keep the things that make life worth living. 'In Westminster and our constituencies, everyone agrees that our high streets have been in decline, so it's vitally important that we protect the places that are special to us, our constituents and our communities, the places that provide a platform for our creators and our world-beating creative industries where we can make memories, celebrate and have fun.' Dame Caroline called on the Government to let town halls and ministers rule on plans 'subject to such conditions that would promote the integration of the proposed development of land with any existing use of land, including such conditions as may be necessary to mitigate the impact of noise on the proposed development'. A similar principle already exists in national planning rules, known as the National Planning Policy Framework, to ease pressure on existing businesses which 'should not have unreasonable restrictions placed on them as a result' of newer builds. But the Music Venue Trust's annual report last year warned that, in 2023, 22.4% of venues closed as a result of 'operational issues', compared with 42.1% of its members reporting 'financial issues'. The Trust identified noise abatement orders or other neighbour disputes as being among the issues which have resulted in permanent closures. 'Consistent application of the 'agent of change' principles will de-risk and speed up planning and development,' Dame Caroline told MPs, and added that her proposal was 'good for venues' and 'good for developers and new neighbours'. She said the law change could help authorities stop 'expensive and often pointless bun fights' when neighbours complain about noise. She continued: 'It'll make sure the needs of an existing cultural venue are considered from the start and it will save developers from late-stage objections and lengthy expensive legal disputes down the line.' Dame Caroline said music venues 'are the foundation of our world-beating creative industries and also very important for our local communities', and that they had been placed 'under threat, including from our disruptive planning system and our onerous licensing regime'. The Commons select committee recommended last year that the 'agent of change' principle should be put on a statutory footing, to protect grassroots music venues.
Rhyl Journal
09-06-2025
- Business
- Rhyl Journal
MP urges Government to protect live music venues from new neighbours' complaints
Dame Caroline Dinenage has proposed letting decision-makers take into account existing properties, when they grant or refuse permission for new projects. The Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee chairwoman warned that 'live music's in crisis, the Government needs to be listening' as she proposed a new clause to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. Dame Caroline, the Conservative MP for Gosport, told the Commons: 'It isn't about venues versus developers. 'It's about making sure we have a balance right between building enough good homes and making sure the places we're building keep the things that make life worth living. 'In Westminster and our constituencies, everyone agrees that our high streets have been in decline, so it's vitally important that we protect the places that are special to us, our constituents and our communities, the places that provide a platform for our creators and our world-beating creative industries where we can make memories, celebrate and have fun.' Dame Caroline called on the Government to let town halls and ministers rule on plans 'subject to such conditions that would promote the integration of the proposed development of land with any existing use of land, including such conditions as may be necessary to mitigate the impact of noise on the proposed development'. A similar principle already exists in national planning rules, known as the National Planning Policy Framework, to ease pressure on existing businesses which 'should not have unreasonable restrictions placed on them as a result' of newer builds. But the Music Venue Trust's annual report last year warned that, in 2023, 22.4% of venues closed as a result of 'operational issues', compared with 42.1% of its members reporting 'financial issues'. The Trust identified noise abatement orders or other neighbour disputes as being among the issues which have resulted in permanent closures. 'Consistent application of the 'agent of change' principles will de-risk and speed up planning and development,' Dame Caroline told MPs, and added that her proposal was 'good for venues' and 'good for developers and new neighbours'. She said the law change could help authorities stop 'expensive and often pointless bun fights' when neighbours complain about noise. She continued: 'It'll make sure the needs of an existing cultural venue are considered from the start and it will save developers from late-stage objections and lengthy expensive legal disputes down the line.' Dame Caroline said music venues 'are the foundation of our world-beating creative industries and also very important for our local communities', and that they had been placed 'under threat, including from our disruptive planning system and our onerous licensing regime'. The Commons select committee recommended last year that the 'agent of change' principle should be put on a statutory footing, to protect grassroots music venues.
Leader Live
09-06-2025
- Business
- Leader Live
MP urges Government to protect live music venues from new neighbours' complaints
Dame Caroline Dinenage has proposed letting decision-makers take into account existing properties, when they grant or refuse permission for new projects. The Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee chairwoman warned that 'live music's in crisis, the Government needs to be listening' as she proposed a new clause to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. Dame Caroline, the Conservative MP for Gosport, told the Commons: 'It isn't about venues versus developers. 'It's about making sure we have a balance right between building enough good homes and making sure the places we're building keep the things that make life worth living. 'In Westminster and our constituencies, everyone agrees that our high streets have been in decline, so it's vitally important that we protect the places that are special to us, our constituents and our communities, the places that provide a platform for our creators and our world-beating creative industries where we can make memories, celebrate and have fun.' Dame Caroline called on the Government to let town halls and ministers rule on plans 'subject to such conditions that would promote the integration of the proposed development of land with any existing use of land, including such conditions as may be necessary to mitigate the impact of noise on the proposed development'. A similar principle already exists in national planning rules, known as the National Planning Policy Framework, to ease pressure on existing businesses which 'should not have unreasonable restrictions placed on them as a result' of newer builds. But the Music Venue Trust's annual report last year warned that, in 2023, 22.4% of venues closed as a result of 'operational issues', compared with 42.1% of its members reporting 'financial issues'. The Trust identified noise abatement orders or other neighbour disputes as being among the issues which have resulted in permanent closures. 'Consistent application of the 'agent of change' principles will de-risk and speed up planning and development,' Dame Caroline told MPs, and added that her proposal was 'good for venues' and 'good for developers and new neighbours'. She said the law change could help authorities stop 'expensive and often pointless bun fights' when neighbours complain about noise. She continued: 'It'll make sure the needs of an existing cultural venue are considered from the start and it will save developers from late-stage objections and lengthy expensive legal disputes down the line.' Dame Caroline said music venues 'are the foundation of our world-beating creative industries and also very important for our local communities', and that they had been placed 'under threat, including from our disruptive planning system and our onerous licensing regime'. The Commons select committee recommended last year that the 'agent of change' principle should be put on a statutory footing, to protect grassroots music venues.
