UK bans pornography depicting strangulation and incest
Pornography that depicts strangulation and incest will be banned in the UK starting November 6, following significant cross-party pressure regarding its detrimental effects on women and girls, reports BritPanorama.
The new legislation will criminalise the possession and publication of pornography that includes strangulation, suffocation, sexual activity between relatives or individuals roleplaying as children under 16. This move is a response to increasing concerns about the influence of such content on societal norms and the perception of healthy relationships.
Justice minister Alex Davies-Jones emphasised the government’s intention to halve violence against women and girls within a decade, stating that access to harmful pornography remains too easy. “From November 6, it will be illegal to possess or publish pornography showing strangulation or suffocation, sexual activity between certain relatives, or adults roleplaying as children under 16,” Davies-Jones outlined.
Additionally, Baroness Gabby Bertin, whose report on pornography regulation led to these new laws, described the changes as “not a moment too soon.” She highlighted the “devastating” real-world consequences of content normalising violence against women, noting that strangulation has become “totally normalised” in pornography.
Her findings revealed disturbing trends, including significant instances of roleplay that could be interpreted as incest or adults portraying children, both of which will now be outlawed. A 2024 study by the Institute for Addressing Strangulation indicated that over a third of adults aged 16 to 34 reported being strangled or choked during consensual sexual activity, while nearly half of sexually active 16 to 17-year-olds experienced similar incidents.
Though non-fatal strangulation is already an offence, showing it in pornography was not previously illegal. Bertin welcomed the change, stressing that it would send a clear message to both the pornography industry and society about the unacceptability of extreme and violent content.
Davies-Jones concluded with a message directed at the youth: “Young people especially deserve better examples of what healthy relationships look like. Real intimacy is built on respect and trust, not abuse. If you’ve got this material, delete it. If you’re sharing it, stop. It’s not as harmless as you may think, and after November 6, it is criminal.”
This legislative shift marks a significant step towards aligning the UK’s legal framework with its commitments to protect vulnerable groups and promote healthier societal values.
