Latest news with #strangulation
Telegraph
a day ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Strangulation in pornography to be made illegal
Pornography depicting any act of strangulation is to be made illegal as part of government efforts to combat an 'epidemic' of sexual violence against women and girls. The move was recommended in a review for the Government by Baroness Bertin, a Conservative peer, who found that porn had effectively established choking as a 'sexual norm'. She said that a belief had taken root that choking a partner during sex was 'safe' because it was not fatal, despite overwhelming evidence that there was no safe way to strangle a person. The Government has already introduced a specific offence for abusers who strangle their partners, with perpetrators facing jail sentences of up to five years. Alex Davies-Jones, the justice minister, said: 'Depicting strangulation during sex is not only dangerous, but also degrading, with real-life consequences for women. '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.' Lady Bertin, who was commissioned to carry out the review by Rishi Sunak, also recommended that harmful online porn that would be illegal on the high street should be banned. The review, published on Thursday, found that violent, harmful and misogynistic porn was common on mainstream platforms. However, the material would be judged as illegal and refused classification by the British Board of Film Classification if it was sold in shops on the high street, according to Lady Bertin's review. It comes ahead of new legally enforced rules requiring websites that host pornographic or other harmful content to have 'robust' age verification in place for UK users by July at the latest. Methods to be required include open banking, photo ID matching, facial age estimation, credit card checks, digital ID services and email-based age estimation. 'No such thing as safe strangulation' Andrea Simon, the director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVAW), said: ' 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. '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. 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. The UK's flagship Online Safety Act must now be updated to ensure online platforms are made to remove this content.'
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
'Choking porn' to be BANNED by Labour under new measures outlawing 'any act of strangulation' on sick sex sites
All pornography showing strangulation and choking will be banned within months, Labour has announced. Laws will be brought in to criminalise 'pornography depicting any act of strangulation'. It comes amid growing concern over the act being normalised in adult movies, and the effect it is having on young adults' sex lives. Legal changes will be made as an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill which is currently going through Parliament, meaning the ban is expected to be in force by the end of the year. Victims minister Alex Davies-Jones said: 'Depicting strangulation during sex is not only dangerous, but also degrading, with real life consequences for women. '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.' A Ministry of Justice (MoJ) source said young people may be unaware of the long-term harm strangulation can have. The Government's Independent Porn Review, led by Baroness Gabby Bertin, found that pornographers had effectively established choking as a 'sexual norm'. The review, published in February, said: 'Non-fatal strangulation pornography (commonly known as 'choking' in pornography) should be illegal to possess, distribute, and publish.' It added: 'Non-fatal strangulation or 'choking' sex is perhaps the starkest example of where online violent pornography has changed 'offline' behaviour. ''Choking' sex is now being normalised with a survey showing 38 per cent of women aged 18-39 have been choked during sex. 'So-called 'choking' content, where there is external pressure on the neck, is rife on platforms that host pornography and is a very popular category of content. 'The review has evidence to show the influence that media sources, including pornography, have had in establishing choking as a sexual norm. An official review found 'so-called 'choking' content, where there is external pressure on the neck, is rife on platforms that host pornography' and called for it to be banned 'People acting it out in their sex lives may face devastating consequences. 'Evidence shows that even a small amount of pressure to the neck can harm the brain, and there is no safe way to strangle a person.' The MoJ spokesman said they were unable to say how the new law would operate, particularly because a large amount of online pornography is on overseas-based websites. But Baroness Bertin's review suggested the Government should amend the Obscene Publications Act 1959 so it 'captures this type of content, so it cannot be published or distributed'. Andrea Simon, director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition, said: 'We welcome the government's decision to criminalise the depiction of strangulation in pornography. '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. 'Its widespread portrayal in porn is fuelling dangerous behaviours, particularly among young people.' She added: '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.' Details of how the ban will work are due to be published at a later date.
The Independent
a day ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Violent pornography showing strangulation to be banned
Strangulation in pornography will be banned after a review warned violent depictions have effectively established choking as a 'sexual norm'. The government has announced plans to make any pornography showing strangulation illegal as part of their pledge to tackle violence against women and girls. It is already a criminal offence to possess porn depicting life-threatening acts, such as graphic strangulation. But the government is set to tighten up laws, warning 'dangerous online material is perpetuating the growing epidemic of violence against women and girls'. It comes after the Independent Porn Review, conducted by Baroness Gabby Bertin, found that media sources have normalised such acts and created a belief that choking a partner during sex is safe because it is non-fatal. Announcing the changes, minister for victims and tackling Violence Against Women and Girls, Alex Davies-Jones, said: 'Depicting strangulation during sex is not only dangerous, but also degrading, with real lifeconsequences for women. '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 move was welcomed by Andrea Simon, director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVAW), who says experts have 'long warned' of the dangers of normalising violence against women in online content. '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,' she said. '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. The UK's flagship Online Safety Act must now be updated to ensure online platforms are made to remove this content.'
BBC News
2 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Minister pledges ban of strangulation and suffocation pornography
Pornography depicting strangulation and suffocation could be criminalised under changes to be introduced by the in the House of Commons, Dame Diana Johnson told MPs: "We know that the increasing prevalence of this kind of content... is fuelling violent sexual encounters."She said the government would aim to make the change by adding amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill when it is debated in the House of Lords. In February, a review commissioned by the previous government found that depictions of strangulation were "rife" online and recommended banning degrading and violent pornography. Baroness Bertin's review and recommendations were welcomed by the End Violence Against Women Coalition, but adult content creator Madelaine Thomas warned that policing people's sexual interests could be "problematic". At the time Downing Street said it would act to address gaps in the law but stopped short of committing to a Wednesday, both Labour MP Jess Asato and former Conservative minister Dame Caroline Dinenage tabled amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill aimed at introducing a ban. Dame Caroline told MPs: "In any given month, over 10 million adults in the UK will access online porn, and the vast majority of them will be chaps."That's up to them. We don't judge. But we also know from research that online porn is so widespread that one in 10 children have seen it 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."MPs rejected her amendment by 310 votes to Diana said there were "issues with the drafting" of both proposed amendments but said the government supported "their underlying aim". "Accordingly, I am pleased to say that we will bring forward amendments in the Lords to criminalise pornography depicting strangulation and suffocation." During the debate, Labour MP Rachel Taylor put forward an amendment aimed at introducing tougher sentences for those committing violent crimes motivated by hostility towards a person's sexuality, transgender identity or disability. She argued that violent crimes motivated by race and religion already carried greater punishments and that "we cannot say, as a society, that some forms of hatred are more evil than others".Responding to the proposal, Dame Diana said the government supported such a change and would "bring forward a suitable government amendment to give effect to this commitment in the Lords".
BBC News
2 days ago
- BBC News
Sowerby Bridge man strangled woman over 'revealing' clothes
A man strangled his girlfriend after an argument over her outfit on a night out, a court has Lowther, 28, admitted strangulation and assault by beating during the incident in August 2023, but was spared a custodial sentence at Bradford Crown Court he was warned that his actions could have been fatal by Judge Christopher Smith, who said that "the same pressure as opening a can of Coke" could cause death by handed Lowther, of Sowerby Bridge, a 12-month prison term, suspended for 18 months. Judge Smith added: "I want to give you a chance to show me that you can keep yourself out of trouble." A two-year restraining order preventing contact with the victim, a curfew and a nine-month alcohol treatment requirement were also imposed on Lowther, of Horley Green court heard that the couple had been on a night out in Sowerby Bridge when Lowther told his girlfriend that her clothes were too Nathan Davis said an argument began and continued when they got home, when Lowther demanded to know who she was texting. He then became aggressive."He put his hands around her neck and squeezed," Mr Davis said. He added that the victim had told police that she could still breathe, but the pressure had "stopped her from screaming for help".Frightened, the victim had locked herself in the bathroom and phoned someone, while Lowther demanded to know who it was, Mr Davis added that when Lowther could not get into the bathroom, he pretended to leave the flat and when the victim opened the door he slammed it into her face. Lowther said he did not remember his actions but blamed them on being intoxicated. His sentence came three years since the Domestic Abuse Act introduced specific criminal offences for non-fatal strangulation and Williams, a survivor of domestic abuse, campaigned for the law to change and has highlighted the dangers of the violent act."We know that you only need the pressure of a handshake to actually kill somebody, but generally non-fatal strangulation is used to exert power and control over the victim," she said. "I've not spoken to one victim over the last 10 years who has not been strangled."But she said that the sentences for these crimes were too lenient. "Sadly, we see it constantly that perpetrators of abuse are not held accountable for their actions."What message does that send to the victim?"We pushed to get this as a stand-alone offence for a reason."It's the second most common cause of stroke in women under 40, but when you look at the medical implications from non-fatal strangulation, it's horrific."So if it carries up to a five-year sentence, we should be imprisoning and giving custodial sentences to those who commit this abhorrent violent act." 'Like an addiction' According to research by the Institute for Addressing Strangulation, there were more than 39,000 strangulation and suffocation offences recorded in 2023-2024, compared to almost 24,000 recorded in the year victims' gender was known, 77% were female and 23% were Williams said: "I see perpetrators of abuse and the power and control they get from abusing is almost like an addiction."I think this is something that can't be cured overnight, either somebody wants to change or they don't. "And this this is a lifetime sort of programme really."But until the court system and the judiciary really start clamping down on perpetrators of abuse, the message that will just carry on going out to them is you can do what you want in that relationship because you're not going to go to prison for it." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
