Violent Pornography showing Choking to be Banned

Pornography that depicts choking and strangulation is set to be criminalised, the government has announced.

The decision follows pressure from cross-party MPs and a review that found such content to be widespread online.

The government will introduce amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill when it is debated in the House of Lords.

Dame Diana Johnson told the Commons: “We know that the increasing prevalence of this kind of content… is fuelling violent sexual encounters.”

Her statement follows a 2024 review by Baroness Bertin, which found that the likes of pornography have effectively established strangulation during sex as a “sexual norm”, and a belief that strangling a partner during sex is “safe” because it is believed to be non-fatal despite overwhelming evidence that is is believed there is no safe way to strangle a person.

The End Violence Against Women Coalition welcomed the recommendations. However, adult content creator Madelaine Thomas warned that policing sexual interests could be “problematic”.

Despite an earlier commitment by Downing Street to address gaps in the law, there had been no promise to introduce a full ban until now.

On June 18, both Labour MP Jess Asato and former Conservative minister Dame Caroline Dinenage tabled amendments to outlaw the content.

Dame Caroline said: “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.”

Her amendment was rejected by 310 votes to 114.

Dame Diana said the government backed the goal behind the proposals but had “issues with the drafting” of the amendments.

She confirmed: “Accordingly, I am pleased to say that we will bring forward amendments in the Lords to criminalise pornography depicting strangulation and suffocation.”

The bill debate also addressed violence against marginalised groups.

Labour MP Rachel Taylor called for tougher sentences where violent crimes are motivated by hostility to someone’s sexuality, transgender identity, or disability.

She said: “We cannot say, as a society, that some forms of hatred are more evil than others.”

Dame Diana confirmed the government would support a similar change. She said ministers would “bring forward a suitable government amendment to give effect to this commitment in the Lords”.

The Crime and Policing Bill will next be considered in the House of Lords.